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To recognize the month of June as National Pollinator Month and the work of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
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WHEREAS, “pollinator” is defined as an agent that transfers pollen to allow for pollination, the process of plant fertilization, and can include bees, wasps, butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, the wind, and humans; and
WHEREAS, pollinators facilitate the production of fruits, seeds, and plants; and provide food security to residents; and
WHEREAS, pollinators are vital to food production, food security, biodiversity, and climate action; and
WHEREAS, pollinator gardens provide various ecosystem services including beautification and biodiversity and can act as nature-based solutions to ecological problems; and
WHEREAS, these nature-based solutions (NbS) are becoming increasingly important as the City of Columbus and the world faces the challenges of anthropogenic global climate change; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, through its Sustainable Columbus office, is committed to imparting equity and environmental justice through strong climate action and is guided by the Columbus Climate Action Plan which has a community-wide goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and 45% reduction in emissions by 2050; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Climate Action Plan has mitigation and adaptation strategies and goals around implementing more green space in urban planning to build healthy ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, Ohio Revised Code Section 1545 established Metro Parks as a subdivision of the State of Ohio.
WHEREAS, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks have made progress towards the City of Columbus Climate Action Plan goals by establishing several pollinator gardens, namely at Battelle Darby Creek Park; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus supports these efforts by Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks to beautify and add biodiversity to the land while also increasing equitable access to green space for historically marginalized communities and residents; and
WHEREAS, pollinator gardens support the mission of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks to conserve open spaces and promote the discovery and experience of these spaces; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize the month of June as National Pollinator Month as well as the efforts of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks to promote biodiversity in the City of Columbus and Franklin County.