Local parks and recreation agencies can provide pollination education
Ashburn, Va. (Jan. 7, 2019) — According to a recent poll, nearly all Americans (95 percent) agree special efforts to create designated areas where plants support the health and growth of pollinators, like honey bees and butterflies, should be made. However, only about a third (34 percent) of Americans are confident they know what actions can be taken to help the conservation of pollinators. The poll was conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in partnership with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation in an effort to learn more about perceptions and educational needs regarding pollinator conservation.
Many local park and recreation agencies offer information or staff who can speak to the importance of conserving pollinators and can help educate community members on what actions they can take.
Regardless of age, income, region or gender, at least 9 in 10 Americans agree communities should make special efforts to create designated areas where plants support the health and growth of pollinators.
Yet the majority of Americans (66 percent) are not completely or very confident in knowing what to do to help pollinators. Parents (43 percent) and millennials (46 percent) are more likely to feel confident than Americans overall, but still more than half are not as confident in the actions they can take to help conservation of pollinators.
“Americans understand supporting pollinators is important,” says Barbara Tulipane, CAE, NRPA president and CEO. “Park and recreation agencies recognize the importance of creating designated areas such as pollinator gardens. Agencies and conservation staff can provide communities with the information they need to support pollinators locally.”
“We are committed to helping Americans connect with and protect the pollinator habitats in their own local parks and backyards,” says Carol Nowlin, ScottsMiracle-Gro Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility. “That’s why we are partnering with NRPA to grow people’s understanding of these vital creatures and their confidence in how to protect them.”
This poll is part of NRPA’s Park Pulse, a continuing series of monthly surveys that gauge the public’s opinion on topics relating to parks and recreation. To explore previous Park Pulse survey results, visit www.nrpa.org/Park-Pulse.
To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.
To view the full-size infographic, click here.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
About The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
The mission of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is to inspire, connect and cultivate a community of purpose. The Foundation is deeply rooted in helping create healthier communities, empower the next generation, and preserve our planet. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that funds non-profit entities that support its core initiatives in the form of grants, endowments and multi-year capital gifts. For more information, visit www.scottsmiraclegrofoundation.org.