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From page 275... ...
11-1 Chapter 11 Communication Support 11.1 Introduction Outreach and communication are important parts of the process when taking action for pollinator conservation. Many of the actions necessary to protect pollinators may involve increased up-front costs, such as using locally or regionally sourced native plants in revegetation projects, or require cultural changes in planning or maintenance activities, such as reduced mowing frequency.
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From page 276... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-2 11.1.1 What is in this Toolkit? This toolkit contains a variety of resources for communicating with the public and with DOT staff members.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-3 showcase to the public an established planting along a roadside or at a highly visible area such as a rest area (Figure 11-2)
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-4 Figure 11-3. This educational sign is next to a display garden created by the Missouri DOT at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. 11.2.2 Websites Some DOTs have created web pages on their websites that specifically address pollinators and pollinator-related issues.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-5 Figure 11-4. Many states offer specialty license plates that highlight pollinators or native wildflowers.
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From page 280... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-6 Note: Guides are available on the following websites: – https://iowadot.gov/lrtf – https://viz.wspis.com/flipbooks/tdot_pollinator_guide/ Figure 11-5. These guides, created by the Iowa and Tennessee DOTs, highlight pollinators as well as the work that the DOTs are doing to support them.
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From page 281... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-7 Note: Posters are a great tool for sharing information with wide audiences, particularly with schools and land management agencies. Posters are available on the following website: https://iowadot.gov/lrtf Figure 11-7. These posters were created for the Iowa DOT as part of the Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund and are available free on request to anyone in the state.
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From page 282... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-8 11.2.7 Social Media Social media is an effective way to communicate with the public quickly about the work your DOT is doing to support pollinators. Social media can help draw attention to articles, meetings, new publications, interviews, podcasts, or demonstration sites or just generate interest in a DOT.
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From page 283... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-9 Month Opportunities for Highlighting Pollinators and Their Habitat May Spring wildflowers and their importance for bees; National Wildflower Week, Endangered Species Day (May 19) , World Bee Day (May 20)
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-10 Why Are Pollinators Important? Pollinators are important to human health and well-being.
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From page 285... ...
11-11 Chapter 11. Communication Support primary sources of habitat; therefore, ensuring that roadsides have native plants that provide the resources pollinators need is highly beneficial. Roadsides can also be very important for increasing habitat connectivity.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-12 recognition of important native plants, updated noxious and invasive weed management techniques, and monitoring techniques for roadside vegetation and/or pollinators. Figure 11-8.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-13 Box 11-1. Roadside Landscape Design and Pollinator Conservation Course Welcome, Introductions, Overview of the Day Module 1.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-14 11.3.2 Partnerships State or federal agencies, as well as local, regional, or national organizations, can be excellent partners for outreach to the general public as well as internal communications (see Box 11-2)
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-15 Table 11-3. Potential partners in communicating with the public regarding revegetation projects or training and educational collaborations on vegetation management techniques.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-16 Potential Partner Organization/Agency Description Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Regional working group in the Midwest that has taken a leadership role in monarch conservation Non‐Government Organizations with Expertise Pertaining to Outreach about Natural Heritage State master naturalists Groups that provide naturalist training for volunteers who are eager to make a difference State natural heritage foundations or commissions Organizations devoted to protecting land and wildlife State biological surveys Some states have divisions that are devoted to monitoring biological diversity; these can provide detailed information about the locations of habitat or particularly important diverse lands Non‐Government Organizations with Expertise Pertaining to Native Plants Native plant societies State or local groups that focus on native plants, restoration, and ecosystem health: https://nanps.org/native‐plant‐societies/ Wild Ones National nonprofit organization with local chapters that focus on native plants and landscaping: https://wildones.org/ Natural Areas Association National nonprofit organization that provides support to a community of natural area managers: https://naturalareas.org/ Non‐Government Organizations with Expertise Pertaining to Native Plant Establishment The Nature Conservancy Nonprofit that focuses on protecting and restoring land and water, often through partnerships: https://www.nature.org/en‐us/ Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Nonprofit organizations that focus on creating and maintaining habitat for game birds: https://www.pheasantsforever.org/ https://quailforever.org/ Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Nonprofit that works to support invertebrates and the important roles they play; has significant expertise in habitat establishment and restoration to support pollinators: https://xerces.org/
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From page 291... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-17 Potential Partner Organization/Agency Description Grassland Restoration Network An association of projects with staff members who work on restoration in a variety of grassland ecosystems. They share knowledge and information about grassland restoration. Non‐Government Organizations with Expertise on Pollinators Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Nonprofit that works to support invertebrates and the important roles they play; has the largest pollinator conservation team in the world and many relevant resources: https://xerces.org/ Pollinator Partnership Nonprofit known for spearheading Pollinator Week: https://www.pollinator.org/ Monarch Joint Venture A partnership of federal and state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and academic programs that work to protect monarchs: https://monarchjointventure.org/ Non‐Government Organizations with Expertise Pertaining to Small Wildlife Species that Use Roadside Habitat National and state Audubon Society chapters Nonprofit organization that works to protect birds: https://www.audubon.org/ Local Wildlife Society chapters Nonprofit organization that provides support for wildlife professionals; local chapters have a regional focus: https://wildlife.org/ In addition to national or statewide agencies or organizations, local groups that have a wide reach may be potential collaborators.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-18 Some steps that Scott Lucas suggests for success include: Know what senior leadership is interested in and find out what motivates them. Some possibilities include eco-credits, financial gain, recognition, and aesthetics.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-19 United States looked at long-term data as well as community science data and found a long-term decline in butterfly abundance amounting to 1.6 percent per year over the last 40 years (Forister et al.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-20 sequestration within roadside habitat in Florida at $39 million per year; that number could increase with the sale of carbon credits. Other more recent studies suggest that natural climate solutions alone could provide one-third of the climate mitigation required to keep warming below 2°C (3.6°F)
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-21 disturbance is important for maintaining plant diversity. For example, periodic disturbances in grasslands can prevent encroachment by woody plants.
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-22 actually reduce pollinator mortality rather than lure pollinators to their death by vehicle. This is because the pollinators stay on the roadsides rather than going off in search of flowers for nectar or pollen.
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From page 297... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-23 Experiment with vegetation management techniques; learn from local land managers and peers in surrounding states. Provide training for staff members so they stay up to speed on new management techniques and plant identification and understand how these measures fit into the goals of the DOT and why they are important.
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From page 298... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-24 11.4.3 Videos The Pollinator Habitat Conservation along Roadways video for use in outreach with the public is available on the National Academies Press website (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/)
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Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-25 11.5 Case Studies 11.5.1 Volunteers Help Grow the Colorado Pollinator Highway Recognizing the role that roadsides play in supporting pollinators, the Colorado State Legislature unanimously passed legislation in 2017 that established Interstate 76 as the Colorado Pollinator Highway. The Colorado DOT then launched a pilot project along Interstate 76 near Julesburg, Colorado, with goals to establish native pollinator plants along rights-of-way, improve weed management practices, and increase public awareness of pollinator habitat and connectivity.
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From page 300... ...
Chapter 11. Communication Support 11-26 collectively spent thousands of hours controlling invasive plants and managing the site for biodiversity. Blueberry Hill is also home to the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee.
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