Swain and Tully Highlight Bill Package to Protect Pollinators in NJ as Part of National Pollinator Week

(Paramus) – Assemblywoman Lisa Swain and Assemblyman Chris Tully (D-Bergen/Passaic) recently advanced a bill package to protect pollinators in New Jersey through the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The three bill package is now ready to be voted on by the full Assembly. This announcement comes as part of National Pollinator Week.

“This bill package is all about prioritizing the ‘Garden’ in Garden State and making sure our agriculture economy can thrive,” said Swain. “A robust pollinator population around our state is not only ecologically important but it is a vital economic driver for New Jersey.”

A recent global review (link here) showed that insect populations are on a path to extinction that threatens the catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems, with pollinators like bees and butterflies in particular danger.

In addition, according to Jersey Fresh, New Jersey ranks in the top 10 nationally for blueberry, bell pepper, tomato, and cranberry production, all of which require pollinators to grow, and seven of NJ’s ten most valuable crops (cucumbers, cranberries, peaches, bell peppers, apples, tomatoes, blueberries) would suffer from the loss of our critical pollinator populations.

“Our collective prosperity is tied into protecting pollinators because New Jersey receives over $1 billion in cash receipts annually from the produce our farmers grow,” said Tully. “Our state is home to over 9,000 farms and approximately one-third of all crops grown require pollinators for reproduction, including the blueberries and tomatoes that our state is famous for.”

The bills that Swain and Tully are championing are:

·         A5531: A bill to establish a “pollinator-friendly” label for plants that retailers and distributors can use to encourage the sale and purchase of plants that are not harmful to pollinating animals. Many plants that are currently sold are treated with pesticides that can kill pollinators, and this bill will seek to educate the public and encourage the purchase of plants that will help preserve our pollinator populations.

·        A5532: A bill to have the Department of Environmental Protection establish a pollinator habitat program for closed landfills. This program will convert closed landfills into pollinator habitats through corporate sponsorships and non-profit partnerships.

·       A5529: A bill to create a “Tree City USA-style” designation for towns that meet certain standards for becoming more pollinator friendly. These standards will not only protect pollinator populations but will also encourage civic engagement and allow municipalities to realize important cost savings by engaging in things like composting and planting no-mow wildflower beds to reduce maintenance costs.

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