PESTICIDE FREE TOWNS
Around the world there is a growing movement of towns and cities taking serious measures to reduce pesticide useage for the health of the pollinators, the water and the people.
European Directive:
In 2009 the European Union Member States approved the Directive 2009/128/EC of the 21 October 2009 on Sustainable Use of Pesticides (SUDP), and the movement of towns going pesticides-free is growing. However, a number of towns, regions and countries had already decided a long time ago to become pesticide free. We can learn from their examples.
Member states banning pesticide use in public areas are:
BELGIUM, FLANDERS, WALLONIA, BRUSSELS, GERMANY, DENMARK, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS, LUXEMBOURG.
PART I – WHY > WHICH > WHO > WHAT
BEE CITIES USA
is a growing movement of cities around USA and Canada raising awareness of the importance of pollinators in our local communities and what each of us can do to provide them with healthy habitat. The Bee City USA program endorses a set of commitments,defined in a resolution, for creating sustainable habitats for pollinators, which are vital to feeding the planet.
Incorporated cities, towns, counties and communities across America are invited to make these commitments and become certified as a Bee City USA affiliate.
BENEFITS TO YOUR COMMUNITY
Ensure survival of vital animal species crucial to our planet’s complex food web.
Improved local food production by raising awareness of how our food grows and improve local food production through enhanced pollination.
Stimulate local plant nursery market by increasing demand for pollinator friendly plants.
Engage community in removing invasive plants and replanting with pollinator friendly local native plants.
Address pest problems less toxically by raising community awareness of less toxic ways to deal with home and garden pest problems.
Increase small business opportunities by supporting niche businesses of pollinator friendly landscaping, beekeeping supplieers, chemical free lawn care, native seed suppliers and growers.
Heighten awareness of seasonal changes by raising awareness of the seasonal changes in flowers and need for planning for year round forage.
BEE FRIENDLY CAMPUS
Education institutions across the country are driving change and ensuring a better future for their communities and pollinators.College students, faculty, administrators, and staff have long been among the nation’s most stalwart champions for sustainable environmental practices. That’s why our aim is for Bee Campus USA to become a national movement.
Thanks Bee City USA for this information.
SEATTLE PESTICIDE REDUCTION
The City of Seattle has committed to reducing the use of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides in all City landscapes. Together, 6 City departments manage over 110,000 acres of public land, of which 12,000 acres are highly developed and managed grounds including greenhouses, specialty gardens, roadsides and medians, golf courses, and hundreds of miles of electrical transmission right-of-way, plus over 1700 acres of greenbelts, open spaces and urban forest lands. The goals of the pesticide reduction program are to eliminate the use of the most potentially hazardous herbicides and insecticides and to continuously seek strategies to reduce overall pesticide use. For more information about Citywide Pesticide Use Reduction Strategy and Pilot Project Information contact the Office of Sustainability and Environment at 206-615-0817 and visit the Pesticide Reduction Website.
The Pesticide-free Parks Program is one way we can help reduce pesticide use. Seattle Parks and Recreation has been maintaining 14 parks without the use of any pesticides since 2001. The program is expanded to include eight more parks and about 25 more acres, for a total of 22 parks and about 50 acres.
Pesticide-free Parks are distributed geographically throughout the city and provide citizens an opportunity to use these facilities with the knowledge that no pesticides are used. Parks and Recreation staff are using this program to adapt sustainable maintenance practices and design guidelines that can be widely used in park landscapes.