Denison University has been recognized for its success in creating natural pollinator habitats on its campus and on its Biological Reserve. The university has met the standards for certification as a Bee Campus USA affiliate.
Some of Denison’s efforts include placing bee habitats across its main campus through an innovative collaboration between the studio art and biology departments. In addition, the university’s 10-acre pollinator-friendly solar array is the first of its kind in the State of Ohio and the first in a five-state area. It is home to more than one million flowering and pollinator-friendly plants. They attract and support birdlife in Denison’s adjacent 350-acre Biological Reserve.
Research has shown significant declines in native pollinator population sizes and ranges globally with up to 40% of pollinator species on earth at risk of extinction in the coming years as a result of habitat loss, the use of harmful pesticides, and climate change.
“We are truly pleased that our efforts to create naturalized pollinator habitats have been recognized,” said Director of Sustainability and Campus Improvement Jeremy King. “We all have a part to play in building a sustainable future for ourselves and the Earth.”