WHEREAS, Alaska has an abundance of plant and animal species that make up the natural beauty of our Great State and contribute to the health of our ecosystems and industries; and
WHEREAS, bees, birds, butterflies, and other pollinator species provide substantial benefits that are vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting terrestrial wildlife, healthy watersheds, and more; and
WHEREAS, pollination supports healthy ecosystems that not only conserve natural resources and biodiversity, but also enrich communities through recreation, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental resilience; and
WHEREAS, pollinator species are also vital to farmers and ranchers, ensuring healthy harvests of crops that provide much of our Nation’s food supply, with approximately one out of every three bites of food made possible by their work; and
WHEREAS, pollinator populations have seen a steady decline since the 1950s, which may be linked to factors such as disease, parasites, viruses, loss of habitat, exposure to pesticides, and lack of genetic diversity; and
WHEREAS, when natural pollinator populations decline, it becomes necessary to artificially introduce pollinators to the environments they are needed, placing stress on the pollinators and the ecosystem and resulting in further reduction in population quantity due to injury; and
WHEREAS, Pollinator Week provides an opportunity to promote the protection of pollinators, increase the quality and amount of pollinator habitat and forage, and help restore pollinator populations to healthy levels.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim June 16 – 22, 2025 as:
Alaska Pollinator Week
in Alaska and encourage all residents to educate themselves about the important role pollinators play in maintaining healthy ecosystems, to celebrate the role of pollinators in our State, and to consider keeping bees or planting flowers, trees, and other plants to maintain healthy pollinator populations in the State.
Dated: June 16, 2025
