The City of Sandy Springs typically scores A's, but this time the City is pleased with B's; make those bees. Sandy Springs was recently designated as a BEE CITY USA affiliate, joining municipalities across the country committed to sustain and support bees and other pollinators by providing these industrious insects with a healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free, to nearly free, of pesticides. Pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of almost 90 percent of the worlds' flowering plant species. Still, they have experienced population declines due to a combination of habitat loss, poor nutrition, pesticides, parasites, and climate change.
"It is crucial that we pay attention when hives disappear, especially when it is indicative of a trend.
Bees and other pollinators play an important role in most of the world's food production," said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, who is also a third-generation beekeeper.
The Sandy Springs Bee City Committee, an initiative of the nonprofit organization, Environment Sandy Springs, Inc., will facilitate the Bee City U.S.A. program's requirements. Initiatives include creating and expanding pollinator habitats on public and private land and conducting educational campaigns.
The idea to nominate Sandy Springs as a Bee City had been buzzing around for a few years for Annalise Jones, a junior at the Atlanta Girls School. Her parents, Laura and Bert Jones, have fostered a beehive in the backyard of their Sandy Springs home for several years. “When Annalise expressed an interest in helping to designate Sandy Springs as a “Bee City,” I thought it would be a good idea to gather like-mined people and work with Environment Sandy Springs to make it happen,” said Laura Jones.
"It is truly incredible how large of an impact that pollinators have on the environment and society. After learning about their struggling populations, I knew that something had to be done about this environmental crisis,” said Annalise Jones.
"Bees are fascinating animals. Their migration of duties from nurses to emerging bees to soldiers, protecting the colony, to foragers – all in a matter of days is an intriguing management study. In addition, they provide a very sweet product," added Paul.
The group worked with the City’s Sustainability Manager, Catherine Mercier-Baggett, to apply for the designation. Mercier-Baggett will serve as a liaison between the City and the Sandy Springs Bee City USA Committee.
The City of Sandy Springs typically scores A's, but this time the City is pleased with B's; make those bees. Sandy Springs was recently designated as a BEE CITY USA
