RIDEM highlighting bees for National Pollinator Week

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said its observing National Pollinator Week this week.

Officials said that pollinators like bees, moths, flower flies, wasps and butterflies play a vital role in the health of the environment.

The department said the world has been experiencing a decline in population of insect pollinators. In response, it launched an initiative to inventory the Ocean State’s pollinators.

The Rhode Island Pollinator Atlas, led by Dr. Katie Burns has a goal of informing future conservation efforts to protect the state’s pollinators.

There are also two projects being run by the DEM as a part of the Atlas; The Rhode Island Bumblebee Survey (RIBS) and the Rhode Island Wild Bee Observer (RIWBO.)

Officials said RIBS is a state-wide community science survey of local bumblebee and Eastern Carpenter Bee populations to document them in their habitats.

RIWBO is an ongoing science project to help the DEM determine the status and distribution of Rhode Island’s bees. To participate, community members can submit their incidental observations of bees from anywhere in the state trough the wildlife observation website and phone app, iNaturalist.

For more information on the Ocean State’s pollinators, visit the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management website.