Pollinators

Pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Native pollinators are species that have evolved alongside local plants and are specially adapted to pollinate them. Because they are adapted to local climates and ecosystems, they are often much more efficient and resilient than non-native species.

Many plants are entirely dependent on specific native pollinators to reproduce and vice versa. A local example is the monarch butterfly which relies on native milkweed to lay its eggs. Without milkweed, their eggs would not survive, and monarchs would not be able to reproduce.

Because of these mutualistic relationships, both native plants and native pollinators are essential for biodiversity and healthy, thriving ecosystems. 

Risks to Native Pollinators

There are many risks facing native pollinators today leading to widespread population declines. One of the most significant risks is habitat loss. As natural landscapes are converted to urban areas, pollinators lose the diverse flowering plants and nesting or overwintering sites they depend on. 

Climate change is another major threat. Shifts in temperature and weather patterns across seasons can alter the timing of blooms and pollinator activity, leading to mismatches when pollinators emerge in the spring and when we see the first flowers. Extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent and severe, can further damage their habitat or decrease resource availability. 

Pesticides are also harmful to native pollinators when misused or overused. Even at low levels, they can be toxic, affecting their ability to navigate, reproduce, and sometimes lead to death. These factors often interact with each other, making it even more difficult for pollinator populations to recover. 
 

What Your City is Doing to Help 

In 2023, the City of Fredericton received the designation of “Monarch-Friendly City” from the David Suzuki Foundation

As part of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan, the City of Fredericton is committed to supporting its local pollinator populations and enhancing urban biodiversity through a variety of actions and community-based initiatives and partnerships.

• Reducing and timing mowing differently in select areas to support flowering plants, pollinators, and birds
• Planting more native perennials 
• Protecting patches of milkweed along trails to support monarch butterfly populations 
• Working with community partners to conserve and restore habitat 
• Preserving environmentally significant land through our Municipal Plan 
• Increasing the diversity of street trees we plant 
• Actively managing and strengthening our urban forest with Fredericton’s Urban Forest Management Strategy

New Brunswick is home to many native bees, including bumblebees, leafcutter bees, mining bees, and more, all of which play a vital role in local ecosystems. These native species have evolved alongside native plants and are essential to maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity in our community. 

The honeybee, however, is not a native species to New Brunswick. It was first introduced to North America in the 1600s for honey production and agricultural pollination. As a result, they are considered a managed, non-native species, that are closely regulated to protect both honeybee and native pollinator populations from disease transmission or resource competition. 

Under New Brunswick’s Bee Act, anyone who owns or possesses honeybees or beekeeping equipment must register annually with the province and hold a valid certificate of registration. For more information on registration, visit the GNB website.  

In Fredericton, beekeeping is subject to municipal by-laws and zoning regulations, with considerations for property use, hive placement, and neighbor safety. Use in Fredericton is only permitted in the Agricultural Zone or the Future Development Zone under the use of agriculture and farming.