June 17-23, 2024 Michigan Pollinator Week

WHEREAS, pollinator species such as birds and insects are essential partners of farmers and ranchers in producing much of our food supply; and,

WHEREAS, pollination plays a vital role in the health of our natural environment, which provides forage, fish and wildlife, timber, water, mineral resources, and recreational opportunities as well as enhanced economic development opportunities for communities; and,

WHEREAS, pollinator species provide significant environmental benefits that are necessary for maintaining healthy, biodiverse ecosystems; and,

WHEREAS, pollinator species are responsible for pollinating seventy-five percent of all flowering plants and thirty-five percent of all food crops; and,

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan has managed wildlife habitats and public lands for decades; and,

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan provides producers with conservation assistance to promote wise conservation stewardship, including the protection and maintenance of pollinators and their habitats on working lands and wildlands;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 17-23, 2024 as Michigan Pollinator Week in Michigan.