Pollinators Benefit Economies

In the U.S., and worldwide, the services provided by pollinators are valuable and integral to economies. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pollinators are responsible for pollinating more than 100 commercial crops in North America. America’s pollinators even improve the quantity and quality of the crops they visit. Research shows that when bees pollinate apple trees more of the tree’s flowers become apples. In the case of watermelon, wildlife pollination increases the number of melons and the weight of each melon per plot. On cherry orchards, the weight of an individual cherry can increase by 2.8 percent when pollinated by bees.

This increase to crop production can equal millions in economic value like in the case of California almonds. Honey and wild bee pollination of almond trees can increase fruit set by 60 percent. California’s annual almond production is valued at more than $6 billion with the state’s Central Valley supplying 82 percent of the worldwide production. Without wildlife pollinators, California’s largest crop export and the 47,000 jobs created by the almond industry would be at risk. In the case of sunflowers, pollinators are economically important for seed production in an industry estimated at $10.4 million annually. Another example is the southeastern blueberry bee, Habropoda laboriosa, this native bee is capable of visiting as many as 50,000 blueberry flowers in their short life and pollinating enough plants to produce more than 6,000 ripe blueberries. At market those 6,000 blueberries produced by one bee are worth approximately $20.

With direct links between pollinators and crop quality and quantity it is estimated that pollinators contribute $34 billion annually to the U.S. This value is more than the annual revenue of companies like S.C. Johnson and Son, Trader Joe’s and Fidelity Investments.  

With more than four million miles of public roads, including more than 164,000 miles of National Highway System roadways, our nation is connected coast-to-coast and community-to-community. These roads move 16.1 billion tons of freight worth $14.9 trillion, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Transportation lines, and all the other roads in America, also support wildlife by offering vital food and shelter in an otherwise fragmented landscape, where wildflowers and grasses enhance the visual appeal, seamlessly integrating different land types with natural landscapes.

Many states, counties and municipalities have vegetation management programs to enhance sustainability, quality of life and the aesthetics of the transportation system. Pollinator habitat is a main type of roadside vegetation used to deliver these improvements which emphasize safety, environmental protection, and the preservation of native wildlife habitats. States of Texas, Iowa, Washington and North Carolina are examples of using this practice.  

Energy corridors- such as utility rights-of-way, pipelines and solar farms- offer untapped potential for supporting native pollinators, enhancing ecosystem services, and increasing operational efficiencies. By incorporating pollinator-friendly vegetation, these linear landscapes become multi-functional assets. Energy entities have the ability to capitalize on lower costs for operations and maintenance over the long term, increase production efficiency, and reduce risks on their energy developments. It may also help comply with regulations or state and federal mandates. Properly managed pollinator vegetation reduces wildfire risk and prevents trees from encroaching on transmission lines. These benefits allow the energy required to perform our daily tasks- such as driving a vehicle, cooking food, and heating our home to occur without interruption. Another asset includes strengthening corporate and public partnerships that can demonstrate environmental stewardship, corporate responsibility and offer visible teachable examples of sustainability. Learn more about efforts being conducted with our partner Electric Power Research Institute's Pollinator Stewardship Dashboard. 

Monarch butterfly candidate conservation agreement with assurances for the monarch butterfly on energy and transportation lands 

The Nationwide Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for the Monarch Butterfly on Energy and Transportation Lands with an integrated Candidate Conservation Agreement represents a unique collaboration between the University of Illinois at Chicago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and more than 75 enrolled entities from the energy and transportation sectors. The voluntary agreement is intended to provide a net conservation benefit to monarch butterflies and to address the potential effects of maintenance and modernization activities within energy and transportation lands on the monarch butterfly and their populations. The effort is unprecedented in terms of its cross-sector participation and geographic extent. The agreement spans the entire contiguous 48 states and encompass more than 1.2 million of acres of habitat and counting. Learn more about the agreement.

Pollinator conservation provides several indirect economic benefits that extend beyond the immediate impacts on agriculture and food production. Pollinators play a significant role in maintaining the biodiversity of plants. Many plants rely on pollination to reproduce, and preserving pollinators ensures that a variety of plant species thrive, which in turn supports other wildlife that depend on these plants for food and shelter.  

Native plants are adapted to local weather conditions, such as precipitation amounts, soil conditions and temperatures. Key advantages of these plants include stabilizing the soil through deep root systems that reduce erosion, control flooding and improve soil health. Increasing native plants in seed mixes when planting along rights-of-way, ditches, fence lines, edge rows, etc., is driven by the need to reduce maintenance costs and address concerns with invasive species . Establishing native plants improves ecological conditions, benefiting pollinators and other wildlife, as these plants have evolved alongside each other. Native plants are also recognized for their ability to improve water quality by reducing nutrient leaching and filtering pollution.

Areas rich in pollinators and flowering plants attract tourists for activities such as birdwatching, hiking, nature photography, contributing to the boost of local economies. These, in turn, increases tax revenue for the local government, support infrastructure and public services. Flowers can be part of a community's cultural heritage. By showcasing local flowers and plants, tourism can help preserve and promote cultural traditions to visitors. Tourism can improve the quality of life for residents by creating a more vibrant and attractive community, contributing to people’s health and supporting local businesses.