Howard County To Become One Of The First Bee Cities In The Nation

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — On Friday, Sept. 6, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will announce a commitment to the environment and pollinator conservation by joining the “Bee City USA” coalition. As one of the first counties in the nation to become a “Bee City,” Howard County will commit to reducing pesticide use and creating sustainable habitats for pollinators, which are vital to feeding the planet.

“One in three bites of food we eat is the result of insect pollination, they are critical to our health and our entire ecosystem. Tragically, pollinators are in decline due to habitat loss, climate change, and the impacts of widespread pesticide use. We cannot wait for the rest of the world to recognize this crisis, we must innovate and be the model of leadership we want others to follow,” Ball said in a statement. “Our commitment to protect pollinators will align directly with our long-term work to combat climate change and build a safe, livable future for Howard County.”

This announcement adds to County Executive Ball’s visionary efforts to make Howard County a national model for local leadership on the issue of climate change. In addition to protecting pollinators, Ball has signed Howard County to the Paris Agreement, made Howard the first county in the nation to accept the U.S. Climate Alliance’s Natural and Working Lands Challenge, and signed an Executive Order to reduce the County government’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero by the year 2050.

The official announcement will occur Friday at 9 a.m. at Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock.