Bee City USA

On March 13, 2023, Charlotte City Council passed a resolution designating Charlotte as a Bee City USA affiliate, joining 23 other North Carolina towns and cities in the program committed to supporting pollinators. Charlotte will partner with local beekeepers to educate the community on bees, enhance habitats and reduce the use of pesticides.

Why is Pollination Important?

Pollination plays a vital role for trees and plants, enhancing quality of life and creating recreational and economic development opportunities. Pollinators like bumble bees, sweat bees, mason bees, honeybees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds and many others are responsible for the production of almost 90% of the world's flowering plant species. and one in every three bites of food we consume.

What Do Bee Cities Do to Help Pollinators?

Hosted through the city's Keep Charlotte Beautiful program, city staff and community partners will work together to advance the Bee City USA commitments, including the following activities:

• Publicizing the Bee City USA Program
• Hosting education events and/or pollinator habitat plantings/restoration
• Developing a list of recommended native plants
• Creating or expanding pollinator-friendly habitats, and
• Working with the city's Landscape Management Division to identify improvements to pest management policies and practices as they relate to pollinator conservation
• Read the full resolution(PDF, 832KB)

Want tips to start your own pollinator habitat and other resources? 

Visit our Pollinator Gardening page.