Pollinators

Insects are in deep trouble. But there is hope.

Insects are vanishing from our landscapes — and not just the headline-grabbing ones. like monarch butterflies and honeybees. Scientists are documenting dramatic drops in countless species, from fireflies and bumblebees to beetles and worms. Quietly, the tiny creatures that keep ecosystems alive are disappearing around us.

When pollinators disappear, ecosystems start to unravel. The good news is that we can help bring them back — one native plant, one garden and one neighbourhood at a time.

Jode Roberts, Manager, Rewilding Communities program

Why are pollinators struggling?

There’s no single cause behind insect declines. Habitat loss, sprawling development, pesticide use, industrial agriculture and climate change are all reshaping the landscapes insects depend on. Wetlands, meadows and native grasslands are disappearing, while many urban and agricultural areas offer little food, shelter or nesting habitat for pollinators and other species.

Scientists around the world are documenting troubling declines in many insect populations — a warning sign that ecosystems are under stress. Like the “silent spring” Rachel Carson warned about decades ago, the disappearance of insects is a reminder that human actions can profoundly reshape the natural world.

Most pollination in Canada happens quietly in the background, thanks to hundreds of species of wild bees living in our forests, fields, parks and neighbourhoods. Here are a few you might spot close to home.

Why are pollinators important?

Insects are the tiny workers that keep ecosystems functioning. They pollinate plants, recycle nutrients, enrich soil and provide food for birds, fish and countless other species. More than three-quarters of wild flowering plants depend on animal pollinators, along with many fruits, vegetables and nuts we eat every day.

When people think about pollinators, they often picture honeybees. But Canada is home to more than 800 species of wild bees — along with butterflies, moths, beetles, flies and other important pollinators. Many native bee species are remarkably effective pollinators, yet they often go unnoticed as they quietly help forests, farms and neighbourhoods thrive.

How can we help pollinators?

Many of the insects most at risk live right alongside us. The good news? Cities and suburbs can become surprisingly rich habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinators when we make space for them.

By rethinking our lawns, parks, schoolyards and boulevards, we can help turn fragmented urban spaces into healthier, more connected habitat. Even small patches of native plants can provide food, shelter and nesting space for pollinators moving through our communities.

How do we bring nature home?

Small actions can have a big impact. Adding native wildflowers, shrubs and trees to a yard, balcony, schoolyard or community space helps provide the nectar, pollen and shelter pollinators need to survive.

Every patch of habitat matters. And when those patches begin to connect across a neighbourhood, they create a kind of living network that helps support pollinators and other wildlife throughout our communities.