Pollinator Health

About the program

The OSU Pollinator Health Program focuses on designing, developing, implanting, and evaluating a state-wide pollinator health strategy; The Oregon Bee Project. The focus of the Oregon Bee Project is not restricted to the Oregon’s four managed pollinator species (honey bees, alfalfa leafcutter bees, orchard mason bees and alkali bees) but also to the state’s rich endowment of wild species. Over the coming months we will be working with partners to develop the Oregon Bee Project website with other state agency partners to provide a round-up of tools for pollinators in Oregon.

The program is currently working on:

1. Improving training and education material for pesticide applicators to increase their knowledge of activities that increase exposure risk to pollinators.
   
   
2. Developing training and education material for landscapers who are looking to incorporate pollinator habitat into their designs.
   
   
3. Research to better understand how pollinators use habitat fragments and how this influences their exposure to pesticides.

The position arises from an initiative from the Oregon Legislature to improve pollinator health in the state (see House Bills 3361 and 3362). 

Thank you, Oregon for taking these steps to protect pollinators!