{"id":19022,"date":"2013-09-18T22:03:14","date_gmt":"2013-09-18T22:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/162.217.168.59\/?p=19022"},"modified":"2023-03-22T14:23:21","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T18:23:21","slug":"honey-bee-forest-habitat-research-garners-sfi-conservation-leadership-award-for-soterra-llc-and-pollinator-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forests.org\/fr\/honey-bee-forest-habitat-research-garners-sfi-conservation-leadership-award-for-soterra-llc-and-pollinator-partnership\/","title":{"rendered":"Honey Bee Forest Habitat Research Garners SFI\u00ae Conservation Leadership Award for Soterra, LLC and Pollinator Partnership"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS <\/b>\u2013 Honey bees are in sharp decline in North America and Europe, jeopardizing their crucial role in pollinating crops that in the United States amount to about one-third of the nation\u2019s domestic food supply. Today, new research led by SFI program participant Soterra LLC<\/a> and the Pollinator Partnership<\/a> on the habitat of honey bees and other native pollinators in forested ecosystems was recognized by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative\u00ae (SFI\u00ae), earning the annual SFI Leadership in Conservation Award <\/i>at the nonprofit\u2019s annual conference this week in San Antonio.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we think of bees, we think of their role in our backyards or on farms \u2013 this innovative study shows that bees are also vital to other ecosystems, including forests,\u201d said SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow. \u201cThe leadership demonstrated, the quality of the forest bee research conducted and the range of partners engaged makes Soterra and the Pollinator Partnership wholly deserving of the 2013 SFI Leadership in Conservation Award.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur study found that managed forests are good for bees and bees are good for managed forests,\u201d said Matt Bonham, Vice President of Soterra LLC. \u201cBee colonies were healthier in managed forests than in the other forests we studied, and the bees help create more fruit in managed forests, which means more food for deer and other wildlife. At a time when beekeepers face the challenges of colony collapse disorder it is valuable to encourage the expanded use of timberlands for healthy bee habitat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soterra LLC and the Pollinator Partnership were recognized for the Tiger Swamp Pollination Study and their overall commitment to the Pollinator Habitat Improvement project, which found that bees thrive in managed forests while helping local wildlife and plant populations. Portions of Soterra\u2019s more than 250,000 acres in three U.S. Southeastern states were involved in this study that explored different forest management techniques and their potential to improve pollinator habitat. Other project partners included the U.S. Forest Service, Mississippi State University, NASA, the University of New Orleans, Sandhill Crane Refuge and Allen Farms and Hines Honey.<\/p>\n

According to Soterra\u2019s mission for the Tiger Swamp Pollination Study, honey bees provide more than $15 billion in agricultural pollination services, yet these bees are also struggling. One factor is that beekeepers are having difficulty finding appropriate feeding and resting sites for their colonies outside of pollination contracts. The study showed privately managed forest systems are an ideal solution, as they can provide understory plants for bees to feed on and, in turn, pollinating bees increase production of blueberries, blackberries, and other fruit-bearing plants such as holly, gallberry and leatherwood.<\/p>\n

SFI Inc. introduced its conservation research leadership award in 2007 to recognize program participants involved in strong partnership activities achieving ongoing and far-reaching benefits.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

SFI EN BREF<\/a><\/h4>\r\nSIGN UP<\/b><\/a> to receive our Monthly Newsletter.\r\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>