Sammamish hosts bee conservation film viewing
On April 12, the City of Sammamish and Sammamish Stewards co-hosted a free film screening at Beaver Lake Lodge. The film, “The Little Things that Run the World,” was designed to educate residents about the benefits native pollinators provide, and how their slow decline could impact ecosystems, species and food systems. The event was part of the city’s involvement in Bee City USA.
Bee City USA was founded to raise awareness about the importance of native pollinators in the environment. Over the years, the organization spread across the United States and was later adopted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, an international non-profit that works to protect the natural world.
“Together, our affiliates unite their community around pollinator conservation to teach each other and educate themselves on ways that they can support our native pollinators by creating high quality pollinator habitat,” said Bee City national coordinator Laura Rost.
After the screening, City staff and stewards shared how participants can get involved and answered questions.
Currently, Bee City USA is active in 48 states along with Puerto Rico and D.C. They have 482 bee cities across the country. Since May 2022, Sammamish has been a certified Bee City affiliate.
In addition to bees, the City of Sammamish works to protect all native pollinator species.
“Being a Bee City allows us to conserve local native bee habitat by educating and involving the local community, improving best management practices, restoring habitat, and by creating new bee friendly landscapes,” said Francine Sanchez, the City’s restoration and volunteer coordinator.
Volunteers from the Sammamish Stewards program have worked to raise awareness about native pollinators through neighborhood plant libraries and booths at the Sammamish Farmers Market. On May 24, from 10 a.m. to noon, they will be hosting a pollinator pop-up event at Big Rock Park Central.
