Pollinator experts and local officials are urging homeowners to plant native species and reduce broad-spectrum pesticide use to protect declining bee populations.

These efforts aim to reverse the loss of essential insects that support global biodiversity and agriculture. Without these pollinators, many food crops and wild plants cannot reproduce, threatening the stability of local ecosystems.

In Colorado, the impact of pesticide exposure has been severe. Beekeeper Cory Kreft said that his apiary lost 85% [1] of its hives in 2021 [1]. Such losses highlight the vulnerability of honeybees to chemical runoff and widespread pesticide application.

Local governments are now moving to institutionalize these protections. In Holyoke, Massachusetts, officials held a public hearing in March 2026 [3] to discuss new landscaping rules. The proposed plan focuses on native-plant landscaping to ensure pollinators have safe habitats, and reliable forage.

Industry professionals are also shifting their approach to pest control. Daniel Smith, a spokesperson for Modern Pest Services, said that the company helps homeowners understand how to protect bees while managing harmful pests. This approach emphasizes integrated pest management, which uses targeted treatments rather than blanket chemical applications.

"Honeybees and bumblebees are essential pollinators supporting local agriculture and biodiversity," Smith said. "We help homeowners understand protecting them and when professional pest management is needed."

Similar initiatives are appearing across the U.S., from New England to Aiken, South Carolina. Experts suggest that garden-level actions, such as choosing native flora over ornamental non-native plants, provide critical corridors for bees to move between fragmented habitats. These small-scale changes can collectively mitigate the effects of urban sprawl and industrial farming.

“Beekeeper Cory Kreft said that his apiary lost 85% of its hives in 2021.”

The shift toward native landscaping and integrated pest management represents a move away from the 'manicured lawn' aesthetic toward functional ecology. By treating residential gardens as part of a larger biological network, these initiatives attempt to create a decentralized sanctuary system that can sustain pollinator populations even as industrial pesticide use persists in larger agricultural zones.