Pollinator Health
We need pollinators…and they need us!
Pollinators play a critical role in our ecosystems and are essential for almost a third of our food production. A healthy abundance and diversity of pollinators not only supports our ecosystems but provides direct benefits for people as well. Globally, up to 75% of all flowering plant species and 35% of all food crops rely on a pollinator for reproduction.
Despite their importance, pollinators are facing serious declines worldwide due to threats such as widespread use of pesticide, climate change, habitat loss and degradation, diseases, and pests. Both the number and diversity of insect pollinators are declining globally.
Right: Crotch bumblebees, a candidate for listing under the California Endangered Species Act, pollinating woollypod milkweed.
Declining pollinator populations by the numbers:
- Native bees, arguably our most important pollinators, are among the many pollinators that are struggling: at least 23% of all bees in North America are in decline. (Koh et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2016) The U.S. is home to around 4,000 native bee species. Astoundingly, San Diego County is home to over 700 species of native bees of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Such a wealth of biodiversity in our region is accompanied by the need to protect it in the face of increasing threats.
- In just 20 years, from 2000 to 2020, more than half of all butterfly species in the U.S. (342 species) experienced an overall decline of 22%. Of the 342 species, half declined by over 42% and 107 species declined by over 50%. (Edwards et al. Science, 2025)
- Scientists have documented a 45% decline in insect abundance across two-thirds of five major insect orders, including bees and wasps, beetles, butterflies, and grasshoppers. (Dirzo et al. Science, 2014)
- 90% of birds rely on insects for food at some point in their lives. Bird populations are often limited by the amount of insect food available to them. Most of the bird species that have declined in the last 50 years are those that depend on insects for food. (Douglas et al. Ornithological Applications, 2021). Results from long-term surveys reveal a 29% reduction in birds since 1970. (Kenneth V. Rosenberg et al. Science, 2019)
How to help pollinators
One of the best ways to support struggling pollinators is to create and restore healthy pollinator habitat.
Ideally, a pollinator habitat:
- Avoids the use of pesticides, especially neonicotinoids.
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Provides host plants and flowering plants that are native to our region with a variety of blooming periods to provide pollen and nectar to pollinators as a year-round food souce.
- Check out Pollinator Garden Basics to plan your garden, and see the plant list below or visit calscape.org to select plants that are well suited for your space.
- Provides nesting sites to support pollinators throughout their life cycle.
- Is not near a honey bee hive, since a high density of honey bees means limited resources for native pollinators. (Honey bees are not native to North America.)
- Avoids artificial lighting, unless illuminating a structure or hazard.
To learn more about creating pollinator habitat, click here.
If you would like to make a donation to our pollinator programs, click here.
If you have questions about pollinators or would like to get involved with any of our programs, email us at: pollinators@rcdsandiego.org.
Pollinators in Action in San Diego County
