The monarch butterfly symbolizes both change and hope. Bee City USA was much like a small butterfly traveling to parts unknown at its founding in 2012. But the program has seen astounding and determined growth over a relatively short period of time. Today, there are 115 certified city and campus affiliates across the nation -- including right here in Decatur, GA, the first bee city in the state. Now Bee City/Campus USA is joining forces with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the largest pollinator protection organization in the world! As of June 30, 2018, Bee City USA will formally become an initiative of Xerces, leveraging Xerces’ 46-year history in support of Bee City USA’s continued growth.
From its launch in 2012, Bee City USA’s strategic plan was to someday be adopted by an established pollinator conservation organization. The Xerces Society was at the top of a short list of prospects. Xerces’ work is based on the latest science and is increasingly recognized as the worldwide standard for pollinator conservation. In the last decade, Xerces’ efforts have culminated in the restoration or protection of pollinator habitat on 692,000 acres of U.S. farmland, with thousands more acres in development.
Read the full announcement from Bee City USA:
https://www.beecityusa.org/blog-and-news/bee-city-usa-has-joined-forces-with-the-xerces-society
