UNC Asheville named nation’s eighth “Bee Campus USA”

Press release from Bee Campus USA and UNC Asheville:

On March 23, UNC Asheville and Bee Campus USA announced that UNC Asheville is the eighth educational institution in the nation to be certified as an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program, designed to marshal the strengths of educational campuses for the benefit of pollinators.

College students, faculty, administrators, and staff have long been among the nation’s most stalwart champions for sustainable environmental practices. UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary Grant said, “We are proud to be among the first campuses to be certified by the Bee Campus USA program. Our campus has been very thoughtful about creating attractive and welcoming outdoor spaces, as well as serving as a living laboratory for our students. This certification shines a spotlight the wonderful work that is being done here. Our students, faculty and staff are already working on pollinator health and sustainability issues and the members of our Bee Campus USA Committee will be excellent collaborators to these important conservation efforts.”

“Imperiled pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of more than two-thirds of the world’s plant and tree species,” said Bee Campus USA Director Phyllis Stiles. “UNC Asheville is a stellar example of the influence educational institutions can have on their students and larger communities. Their talented faculty, staff, and students offer an invaluable resource for Western North Carolina residents in seeking ways to manage ornamental landscapes in more wildlife-friendly ways.”

According to UNC Asheville Environmental Specialist Jackie Hamstead, the University has planted hundreds of pollinator-friendly native plants and several pollinator gardens over the past several years. Indeed, in 2014 the University was awarded four grants to enhance habitat for pollinators on campus. Clumping no-mow grasses, perennial flower stems, and trees stumps/snags provide habitat for native ground-nesting bees and wasps. A mobile-friendly Google map on the University’s pollinator page encourages self-guided tours. Last fall the Campus Operations Division hosted a workshop for managers of other large campuses on landscaping practices that support pollinators.

Manager of Grounds, Landscape Design & Development Melissa Acker takes pride in the University’s commitment to minimizing hazards to pollinators by using no neonicotinoid pesticides, and making 30 acres (96%) of the academic core pesticide-free. To raise awareness about the plight of pollinators, UNC Asheville has published a webpage to disseminate information to the campus and external communities including the University’s Integrated Pest Management Plan, a list of native plants incorporated into the campus landscape including their bloom time and habitat needs, links to student research into pollinator issues, and information about upcoming events.

Associate Professor of Biology Jen Rhode Ward is excited about the opportunities for student research and service-learning. Already faculty, staff and students have worked together to study and create pollinator habitat with native plants. More than six courses include pollinators in their syllabi and removing invasive species is an important student activity during the biannual Greenfest Service Learning Day.

As UNC Asheville’s Director of Sustainability, Sonia Marcus pointed out, “This certification recognizes our campus as a site for cross-pollination on a number of important levels, from the ecological to the curricular. It’s a great opportunity for us to demonstrate leadership on a scale that includes our whole campus and our whole campus community — including its non-human residents.”

According to Stiles, each certified campus must reapply each year and report on accomplishments from the previous year. Other institutions of higher education are invited to explore completing the application process outlined at beecampususa.org.

UNC Asheville has already added to its portfolio of bee attributes, having recently won a competition with Asheville Design Center’s DesignBuild Studio program for its design, “Native Bee Hotel at UNC Asheville.” The “Bee Hotel” design features a living learning sculptural installation that would provide habitat for pollinators and plants, while enhancing campus aesthetics and facilitating student and community engagement.