Xerces Society

Pollinator conservation - Xerces' pollinator conservation program works across the united states to educate farmers, land managers, and the public about the importance of pollinators and other beneficial insects, and to establish habitat protection and management as keys to their conservation. As a leading voice in pollinator conservation, Xerces promotes practical solutions that address the root causes of pollinator declines: habitat loss, pesticide use, unsustainable farming practices, disease, and climate change. See schedule o for continuation.it directly reaches agricultural professionals and farmers as well as other land managers through trainings, workshops, and other outreach events. In addition, Xerces manages the only third-party certified pollinator conservation program to help farmers to protect and restore habitat for pollinators. As a result of Xerces' work, native pollinators are now a key priority for agricultural conservation programs across the united states, and over 1.5 million of acres of habitat improvements have been made for these vital insects.

Pesticide reduction - Xerces' pesticide reduction program reduces reliance on pesticides by supporting the diverse natural systems that reduce pest problems. It provides scientific resources for farmers, rangeland managers, backyard gardeners, nursery managers, urban foresters and park managers, federal, state and local agency staff, and policy makers so that they can make informed decisions about pesticide use and regulation. By providing on-the-ground technical support, Xerces increases the adoption of ecologically sound pest management practices everywhere. Xerces pesticide reduction programs have eliminated and lowered pesticide use across millions of acres of rangeland, farmland and towns and cities.

Endangered species conservation - to conserve and restore the diversity of life on earth, Xerces' endangered species conservation program engages in education, research, community science, conservation planning, and advocacy to protect at-risk species and their habitats. The program collaborates with scientists and land managers to raise awareness about the plight of invertebrates and to gain protection for the most vulnerable species before they decline to a level at which recovery is impossible. It also works with federal, state, and local agencies to promote climate-resilient restoration and best practices for habitat management.see schedule o for continuation.its current work includes efforts to protect bumblebees, monarchs and other butterflies, freshwater mussels, fireflies, and other invertebrates. Through community science projects, which include bumble bee watch, the western monarch counts, the western monarch milkweed mapper, and the firefly atlas, Xerces engages tens of thousands of individuals who gather data to inform conservation efforts.

Other conservation - Xerces undertakes a variety of other conservation activities to raise awareness and appreciation of the valuable role of invertebrates, and their role in protecting the natural world. These include the publication of its magazine wings: essays on invertebrate conservation, which features the work of renowned wildlife photographers, scientists, and conservationists. Xerces also provides hundreds of publications for free download through its website, including guidelines to help farmers and gardeners conserve pollinators, guides to identifying endangered bumble bees, other beneficial insects and soil invertebrates and many more. Another aspect of this program is the joan m. dewind award, which is open to graduate and undergraduate students. Each year, chosen applicants receive financial support from Xerces for lepidoptera research and conservation projects.

Community engagement - the community engagement program provides resources on invertebrate conservation to all age groups. It provides expertise on habitat for pollinators and other invertebrates to community and school gardens, cities, and college campuses, and it offers conservation workshops for urban and suburban audiences, reaching hundreds of thousands of people each year. Our bee city usa network works with towns, cities and college and university campuses to protect and restore pollinator habitat and to reach broadly into these communities to promote pollinators. Bee city usa affiliates have restored habitat, minimized pesticide use and reached more than 1.4 million people with pollinator conservation messaging. By engaging volunteers, over 100 Xerces ambassadors, and youth through x kids, Xerces educates and inspires individuals and communities to take action to conserve invertebrates.