Audubon Symposium on Pollinator Health and Native Habitat

By Katie Schortmann, Pollinator Outreach Coordinator / Environmental Educator

Renowned entomologist and author, Dr. Doug Tallamy, launched the sold-out Transforming the Landscape Symposium with a keynote address to over 200 attendees. His knowledge, humor, and message of hope inspired guests to shrink their lawns and plant native for wildlife. Tallamy’s presentation illustrated the efficacy of adding native plants back into our landscapes by showcasing success on large and small, rural and urban scales.

Held on April 20, 2024, at Rhode Island College, the symposium highlighted some of the state’s top scientists in pollinator research. It also included presentations by environmental educators, Master Gardeners, leaders in pollinator pathway programs, and advocates for pollinator protections. Workshops and lectures were filled with enthusiastic participants as information and ideas were exchanged.

Guests were given toolkits to encourage confidence when speaking about the dangers of neonicotinoid pesticides. The harm of these pervasive pesticides on pollinator populations was echoed in the presentation of Dr. Steven Alm of the URI Bee Lab. He encouraged everyone to spread knowledge about this group of dangerous chemicals and to be aware of their use on private landscapes.

Audubon thanks the many symposium speakers and guests for attending. It will take all of us - concerned members of the community, novice and master gardeners, environmental educators, landscape designers, scientists, conservation professionals, native plant co-ops, neighbors, and friends – to educate, advocate, and transform the landscape for healthy pollinator populations.

To watch a recording of Doug Tallamy’s keynote address and obtain a summary of the symposium with links to resources, please visit: asri.org/PollinatorSymposium

Keynote Speaker Dr. Doug Tallamy.

Audubon Pollinator Outreach Coordinator Katie Schortmann (left) with Sally Johnson of Ecoastal Design.

Both the RI Wild Plant Society (above) and Botanica Land Care (below) encouraged gardening with native plants at the symposium.

I brought my husband to try to convert him from the ‘pristine lawn’ camp. Doug Tallamy did the trick; it was wonderful to me to see how enthralled my husband became for supporting wildlife in our backyard.