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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 16, 2026 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-b <br /> SUBJECT: Pollinator Week Proclamation <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> & Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proclamation Abby Mattingly, 919-245-2510 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation declaring June 22-28, 2026, as "Pollinator Week" in <br /> Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: National Pollinator Week in the United States was first established in 2007 by <br /> the U.S. Senate in response to growing concerns about the decline in pollinator populations, such <br /> as bees, butterflies and wasps. This event created was created by Pollinator Partnership, a <br /> nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their <br /> ecosystems. <br /> Over the years, National Pollinator Week has grown into a widely recognized event across the <br /> country. Events are held annually to celebrate the week, including in Bee Cities such as the Towns <br /> of Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (a Bee City <br /> affliate). <br /> Orange County departments such as DEAPR and Cooperative Extension regularly hold or <br /> participate in events promoting the importance of pollinators and encourage the community to <br /> take action. Parks within the County like Blackwood Farm Park and Little River Regional Park <br /> provide residents an upclose view of pollinator gardens, butterly gardens and open space to help <br /> protect native pollinators in Orange County. The Nature of Orange Photography Contest promotes <br /> showcasing the beauty of the County with the emphasis on nature and themes such as pollinators. <br /> The Climate Action Plan (CAP), approved in 2023 by the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners, outlines objectives that emphasize the creation of pollinator gardens (Green <br /> Community Goal GC 1.3). Additionally, it aims to develop programs and educational resources to <br /> support pollinators and organize workshops (Green Community Goals GC 6.1, 6.1.1). Pollinator <br /> Week serves as a reminder of the significance of pollinators and their vital role in the ecosystem. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the <br /> proclamation. <br />