What Vancouver is doing for pollinators—and how you can do it too
Last week was National Pollinator Week! In Vancouver, WA, the 2nd annual Pollinator Festival was held on Saturday, June 21st to celebrate the vital role that pollinators play in our landscapes and educate the public about conservation work happening in their community. The event included a series of guest speakers, an iNaturalist Bioblitz, garden tours, and more. Below, Kyle Roslund (board chair of the Vancouver Bee Project and a Washington Bee Atlas volunteer) reflects on how you can replicate the work happening in Vancouver within your own community.
Across Washington, communities are stepping up to support pollinators—and in Vancouver, we’re proving that grassroots action and public partnerships can make a real impact. From advocating for native bees to transforming public landscapes, the work happening here is a model for what’s possible anywhere.
Advocacy at the local level
Vancouver officially became a Bee City USA in 2025, thanks to years of advocacy from community members who care deeply about pollinators. The process took persistence—meeting with city council members, giving public testimony, and building relationships with staff across departments. But in the end, we created a coalition of support for native bees, native plants, and pollinator-friendly policies.
You can do this too
Start by learning who makes decisions about landscaping and planning in your city or town. Show up at public meetings. Share success stories from other Bee City USA communities. Connect with like-minded neighbors and form a group that city staff can partner with.
Partnering with government
None of this work happens in a vacuum. We’ve partnered with the City of Vancouver’s Naturespaces program, the Port of Vancouver, and Clark Public Utilities and many others to install and maintain pollinator habitat across the city. These agencies have the land, the reach, and often the funding to make large-scale impact—when they’re willing to collaborate.
You can do this too
Reach out to your city’s parks department or environmental services team. Ask about underused lawns, median strips, or stormwater areas that could become pollinator habitat. Bring them resources like the Xerces Society’s native plant lists or IPM guidelines. Build trust by showing up, being organized, and offering volunteer support when you can.
Pushing for Native Plants
Native plants are the foundation of healthy ecosystems, and they’re the most effective way to support native bees. In Vancouver, we’ve worked to prioritize native species in public plantings, advocated for pesticide-free maintenance, and distributed native seed mixes to community members through a local seed library.
You can do this too
Organize a seed swap or native plant sale. Talk to your local nursery about carrying more native species. Encourage your city to adopt native planting guidelines. The more visible native plants are, the more people understand their value—for pollinators and for climate resilience.
Hosting events that inspire
Public engagement matters. In Vancouver, we host an annual Pollinator Festival (held just last Saturday this year!) that draws hundreds of attendees, offers free educational programming, and celebrates the beauty and importance of native bees. We also organize BioBlitzes, native meadow plantings, and habitat tours to get people outside and excited about pollinator stewardship.
You can do this too
Start small—a single event can spark interest and build momentum. Partner with schools, libraries, conservation districts, or local nonprofits to reach a broader audience. Share your events on community calendars and social media to bring in new voices.
The Takeaway
Pollinator conservation isn’t just for scientists or policy makers—it’s for everyone. What we’ve done in Vancouver is replicable. You can advocate for native bees, build relationships with local governments, and get habitat into the ground—right in your own neighborhood. Start where you are. Build connections. Speak up for the smallest creatures that sustain the biggest systems. Washington’s native bees are depending on it.
Learn more about WSDA's Pollinator Health Program, the Washington Bee Atlas, and native bees at agr.wa.gov/pollinators.