Towards a bee and pollinator friendly Canberra

ACT for Bees recently met with Suzanne Orr MLA to discuss Canberra's journey towards becoming a Bee and Pollinator-Friendly City, building on the ACT Labor Government's election commitment to better support pollinators.

Successful initiatives such as Bee City Canada and Bee City USA provide clear examples of how communities can protect and promote pollinators. Their approaches include increasing the use of native plants, providing nesting habitat, reducing pesticide use, and raising public awareness about the vital role pollinators play in healthy ecosystems.

We discussed a range of ideas with Ms Orr, including the creation of pollinator demonstration gardens in new greenfield suburbs. These gardens would showcase pollinator-friendly plants and help residents make informed choices for their gardens and nature strips.

We also encouraged Ms Orr to progress the recommendations of the Nature in Our City Report 2018, which reflected extensive community consultation and input from environmental organisations across the ACT.

Momentum is building elsewhere too. In May 2023, Newcastle City Council committed to becoming a pollinator-friendly city following Australia's first Varroa mite outbreak by increasing the planting of native, pollinator-friendly species throughout the city.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how local governments can play an important role in creating healthier landscapes for bees, other pollinators and the communities that depend on them.