NRDC Reaction to New White House Pollinator Task Force Plan

WASHINGTON (May 19, 2015) -- The first-ever White House Pollinator Task Force today announced new steps to protect pollinator health.

The following is a statement by Peter Lehner, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

“This isn't only a wildlife issue, it's a serious food security issue. Bees and other pollinators are actually responsible for pollinating more than a third of our food supply.

“The President is right to elevate the urgency of this matter. While the task force's recommendations are a good first step toward saving them, more urgent action is needed to safeguard our food supply. We applaud the President's commitment to accelerate the review of several neonicotinoid pesticides. But to truly save bees and other pollinators, we must drastically cut down on today's pervasive use of neonicotinoids and other pesticides.

“Amid the mounting evidence of the danger they pose, the Environmental Protection Agency must follow through with its expedited review commitments and drastically reduce the widespread use of these pesticides beginning with those for which safer alternatives are available.”

For more information on this issue, please see: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jsass/the_government_pollinator_heal.html