RESTON, VA – Today, the National Wildlife Federation, in partnership with Beesponsible®, launched two new advocacy toolkits for both individuals and municipalities.

In recent years there has been a sharp decline in populations of both commercially managed honey bee colonies, as well as native bees like the rusty patched bumble bee, which was recently listed as endangered. Pollinators are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat, so their decline could have lasting effects on our food systems along with natural plant communities that serve as the base of the food chain for all wildlife. Habitat loss and pesticide use remain significant threats and that’s why the National Wildlife Federation and Beesponsible want Americans to know that, with a few simple steps, they can make a positive difference for their local pollinators.

NWF and Beesponsible® teamed up in March to launch a social advocacy campaign aimed at reversing the decline of bee populations and promoting bee-friendly, pesticide-free gardening and conservation efforts. Now, the two groups are providing free, downloadable online advocacy toolkits to empower people to take on-the-ground action on behalf of bees and pollinator population health.

The Be a Bee Advocate toolkit encourages Americans to make healthy, wildlife-friendly decisions while gardening, share their stories on social media, and even provides tips on how to involve city councils to pass Beesponsible® proclamations, which are useful tools for municipalities to call public attention to the decline of bees and to express a city’s support of bee conservation.

“By engaging more people in pollinator conservation we are helping inspire a movement,” explained Kevin Coyle, Vice President of Education & Training, National Wildlife Federation. “We want this type of conservation to become a normal, easy part of everyday life. These resources are a great way to empower the public to join a meaningful cause and make a difference in their own backyard, and our work with Beesponsible is helping make that happen.”

Both toolkits also encourage individuals to register their garden as a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation - Whether someone has 10 acres of farmland or a tiny balcony in the city, any space can be certified, so long as the habitat provides wildlife with food, water, cover, and a place to raise their young and it is maintained in a natural, sustainable way.