Operation Pollination
“Protecting the Little Things that Run the World”

Pollinators are essential for life on Earth. The reproductive success of more than 85% of plants on the planet depends on them, including much of the food we eat. Sadly though, in just the past 50 years, more than 40% of pollinators on Earth have disappeared.

Pollinator decline is a global crisis. It is estimated that one out of every three bites of food we eat is the direct result of insect pollination. Disappearing pollinators leads to food insecurity. Today, more than 400,000 people die every year due to lack of access to pollinated crops.

Operation Pollination was developed for Rotarians to be able to help address this environmental issue. If your Rotary Club wants to get involved with a simple “support for the environment” project that can help solve this problem, Operation Pollination is a Districtwide initiative that can help. It can be found at https://esrag.org/operation-pollination.

Operation Pollination is also an ESRAG Initiative. ESRAG is Rotary’s Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group. The ESRAG Pollinator Page can be found at https://esrag.org/pollinators.

Operation Pollination is simple to get involved with. The District Governor has already signed the “Pollinator Resolution” found at the https://esrag.org/operation-pollination web site. Now, your Rotary Club President, with full support from Club members, should sign the “Pollinator Pledge” (also found at the same link). Again, all that your President needs to do for your Club to be involved is to sign the “Pledge.”

What project you decide to put on your Pollinator Pledge is totally up to you. It couldn’t be any easier. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

1. Plant a pollinator garden.
2. Hand out seed packets to school kids.
3. Present community programs.
4. Paint a community mural.
5. Consider the “No Mow May” initiative, or…
6. (Much Better) Designate a part of your yard for pollinator habitat.
7. Install a community rain garden.
8. Support a pollinator group.
9. Help others restore the land.
10. Read about the pollinator situation and teach your family/friends about it.

Any of these ideas, no matter how simple, can be placed on your Rotary Club’s Pollinator Pledge found at https://esrag.org/operation-pollination.

A worldwide group of 130+ volunteers called the Operation Pollination Ambassadors formed to help provide local support. To help Rotarians in District 5960, Operation Pollination Ambassadors are Rotarians:

Judy Freund

Hudson Daybreak

Marlene Gargulak

Rice Lake

John Burr Lennes Jr.

Stillwater Sunrise