Virginia Pollinator Week

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, pollinator species including birds, bats, and insects are significant components of Virginia’s natural heritage, providing an essential and irreplaceable ecosystem service to maintain healthy, biodiverse, and resilient habitats and natural communities; and

WHEREAS, pollination plays a vital role in the ecosystem health of our natural surroundings and habitats, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and riparian areas, which provide sanctuary, clean air, and clean water for Virginia’s wildlife, citizens, and visitors; and

WHEREAS, pollinators help to ensure the stability and vitality of natural ecosystems and are natural resources important to the forestry, agriculture, and outdoor recreational industries, all contributing to sustainable economic development opportunities for Virginia communities; and

WHEREAS, pollination is relied upon by Virginia’s farmers who produce a fresh and nutritious food supply for our Commonwealth and beyond; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia provides producers with assistance to promote wise resource conservation and responsible stewardship, including the protection and management of pollinators and their habitats on working lands and surrounding natural areas; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia encourages citizens, private landowners, land managers, and private sector industry to support, inform, and guide decisions for plantings of native pollinator-friendly plant species, with resources such as the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Virginia Native Plant Finder and Virginia Pollinator-Smart Program;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize June 17-23, 2024, as VIRGINIA POLLINATOR WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations