Boston's Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge.
An act to protect bee habitats in Massachusetts failed to advance the 2021-2022 legislative session.
"At the time, there were a lot of other environmental bills people were working on, so I honestly think this bill didn't rise to the top of the pile. However, I think there is a potential for it to move forward during the next informal session, but there is no guarantee of that," said Rosemary Malfi, Pollinator Network Coordinator at Northeast Organic Farming Association of Massachusetts.
The bill would establish a commission to study how to improve and increase pollinator habitats in Massachusetts and would examine threats to pollinators such as climate change and pesticides.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates honeybees alone contribute over $19 billion worth of crops yearly, with other pollinators contributing another $10 billion.
"Honeybees are special because they produce a surplus of honey that humans can use for consumption without hurting them. They are also valuable because they can be transferred from one location to another to enhance pollination where needed; other insects are not as flexible," said Mary Duane, president of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association, known as MassBee.
The board of experts established by the bill would then report findings and propose legislation to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. In the meantime organized activist groups fill this role.
"Part of MassBee is meeting at the State House to educate legislators as we do with anyone willing to listen to us. We talk at schools, farmers' markets, and libraries. You may realize a lot of people are letting their lawns go and planting a lot of wildflowers, as opposed to managing their property with a pristine green lawn," said Duane.
Fresh produce is one of the many goods we stand to lose without pollinators.
"If the pollen from one apple tree does not transfer to another apple tree, then we'd never get apples," said Malfi.
Advocates actively inform the general public about the range of benefits pollinators contribute to our society in efforts to raise awareness.
"Bee products have proven to be an elixir on earth. Propolis combats cancer through traditional medicine. In alternative medicine, apitherapy can treat allergic conditions like asthma," said Hector Jurado, former Venezuelan apiarist and current veterinarian.
"It's tough to keep wild space wild nowadays. It's a matter of human beings coexisting with honeybees and other insects, but I can't say if there is a specific group against this cause," said Duane.
Malfi said, "I don't think anyone would be at a disadvantage with this bill passing, especially considering it's putting together a commission to study the issue."
Others disagree, like Leigh-Anne Cole, MASSPIRG Organizing Director: "Bayer, Syngenta, and Dow are amongst the biggest producers of neonicotinoids. They are making their case loud and clear to government officials and major agricultural interests. They have done some of their own studies that deny the link between neonicotinoids and the bee die-off. And Bayer has even set up a Bee Care Center and educational program to let us know how much they 'care' about bees."
This year, the Environmental Protection Agency released final biological evaluations confirming neonicotinoid insecticides harm roughly three-fourths of all endangered plants and animals. These include all 39 species of amphibians protected under the Endangered Species Act.
The workday of a bee begins when the sun rises and ends when it sets. Farmers could apply pesticides once it's dark and bees are back in their hives, safe from harmful chemical exposure.
"Stubborn farmers that have been in the business for generations refuse to accept eco-friendly alternatives to maintain their crops," said Gustavo Garcia, an apiarist based in Miami with over four thousand apiaries. As requested, he often transfers hives to Massachusetts during apple and cranberry harvest seasons.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) took regulatory steps to limit the sale of neonicotinoids. As of July first of this year, the retail sale of these chemicals was prohibited.
"It's a great thing that we limit their use for the general public, but the larger share of usage is in the agricultural sector," said Malfi.
The European Union banned neonicotinoid use because founded scientific studies prove the direct association with pollinator decline. Yet, these remain the most commonly used pesticides in the United States.
"The next step is to ban neonicotinoids completely. There is already a bill to ban it at the state level, but the manufacturers are powerful special interests, so we need to build up public support to demonstrate that more needs to happen," said Cole.
