Event Description:

Great River Greening is Minnesota's leader in nature based climate solutions through land restoration. Our mission is to inspire, engage and lead local communities in conserving and caring for the lands and waters that enrich our lives.

During Latino Conservation Week, GRG will host an event at Crosby Farm park in St. Paul. Attendees will learn techniques to identify native bees and record their findings in Community Science databases such as  iNaturalist or Bumblebee Watch. 

In coordination with the University of Minnesota Bee Lab and the Xerces Society, Great River Greening (GRG) is piloting more accessible ways for community scientists to measure what pollinators can be seen at a site. Two methods we will teach attendees are the 3-Category (3CAT) monitoring protocol and to use the iNaturalist app. The 3CAT and iNaturalist app are accessible to anyone who can go out to a park or place where plants are in bloom. Both involve minimal training (no species level ID skills required), doesn’t require permits (any capture and release in the metro requires incidental take permits). The 3CAT does not require the use of technology whereas the iNaturalist app requires a smart phone or computer. The idea of the 3-Category Monitoring protocol is that a person can go out to an area, walk around for 30 minutes, and tally the numbers of organisms they see in three categories – honeybees, native bees, and “other pollinators”. This type of participatory science provides crucial information about the pollinator populations in an area, as well as introduces conservation topics and engaging information the participants can take with them after the event.  

Some pollinators of interest, Monarch Butterflies in particular, migrate from Minnesota/northern North America to Central and South America. The valuable organisms we are studying do not have borders and the conservation of these organisms is of equal concern to all people around the world. Many of these species are now very rare, and depend on this type of local, community engagement for their survival.   

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