The New York State Pollinator Promotion Act of 2025 - Summer

Team Members: Erica Albert, Michelle Cimino, Yelena Arkhangelskaya, Brendan Chapko, Alexander Feil, Laura Hughes, Luke Piazza, Michael Tersigni, Sam Thanassi, Ashley Yoon

This report evaluates the New York State Pollinator Promotion Act of 2025, legislation designed to address the rapid decline of insect pollinators through coordinated policy interventions across multiple state agencies. Pollinators play a critical ecological and economic role in ecosystems and agriculture, supporting approximately 90% of flowering plants and contributing billions of dollars in agricultural productivity globally. However, habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and land-use change have contributed to significant declines in pollinator populations. The proposed legislation integrates pollinator protection into three areas of state law: environmental conservation, education, and highway management.

The report analyzes how the bill would promote pollinator-friendly land management on state-owned lands, encourage the use of native plants and reduced pesticide use, and integrate pollinator education into school curricula. Additional provisions encourage the expansion of pollinator habitat along highways and public lands, promoting coordinated action across multiple state agencies. The authors evaluate ecological drivers of pollinator decline and assess potential controversies related to land-use management, agricultural practices, and implementation challenges. The report concludes that the bill represents a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to biodiversity conservation, though its success will depend on consistent monitoring, interagency coordination, and long-term habitat management strategies.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.