Dear [Mayor/Councilperson]:

Nearly one-third of the food we eat requires insect pollination, and the most effective pollinators are bees. Unfortunately, bee populations are declining at an astonishing rate. In 2017, the rusty-patched bumblebee, once abundant in over half of the country, was the very first bee in the continental U.S. to be declared endangered (joining seven species of Hawaiian bees). Bee decline is an ominous sign of the worsening health of ecosystems. Without bees, we’re all in big trouble.

A major threat to bees is the widespread use of pesticides. Chemicals that kill unwanted insects also kill beneficial bees and the plants they need to survive. Scientific studies have conclusively linked the use of neonicotinoids to the decline of honeybees, wild bees, and other pollinators. The EU Member States have also recently recognized the threat posed by neonics and severely restricted their use.

As a policymaker, you have the power to pass laws, make decisions and set priorities for our community. As your constituent, I urge you to integrate bee conservation into our city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan and other city plans. Specifically, I ask that you:

For the sake of bees, the environment and us, please integrate bee-friendly practices into our community’s pest management and sustainability planning. Preserving the well-being of these pollinators, and our fragile ecosystems, is critical to our food supply and future.

With Greatest Concern, [Your name]