The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is asking residents to attend the remaining of the month before busting out the lawn mower to assist with biodiversity in its cleverly titled “No Mow May” campaign.
The campaign’s goal is to get the message out in regards to the potential role people can play in helping biodiversity by not mowing their lawn of their back and front yards.
Matthew Braun, manager of conservation, science and planning with the NCC, explained the concept first began in the UK before making its approach to Canada.
“It’s intended to present the insects and their food supplies a probability to undergo their a part of the life cycle here early on and in the summertime,” Braun said.
Insects reminiscent of bees, butterflies and ants are busy pollinating this month, which plays a key role in the expansion of Saskatchewan plants and crops.
“I believe individuals are searching for ways in which they will contribute to conservation and green ideas and biodiversity protection in their very own backyards. I do know individuals are at all times asking us for things that we will suggest that they will do. That is one small thing that if all of us did a few of these small things together, we’d make a difference,” Braun said.
He explained that by keeping the lawn mower stowed away for an additional month, it allows food sources to bloom and supply for insects and other wildlife species.
“A few of those dandelions that appear like they won’t have any good use, they’re providing a service on the market. There’s a requirement for them, for those insects that actually construct the bottom, that pyramid that helps support all the various animals above them,” Braun said.
The pollinator’s population has been declining lately. Braun explained specifically Saskatchewan is impacted, like the remaining of the world, by global temperatures and precipitation patterns. He said warmer summers are going to have an effect on insects and pollinator populations, in addition to declining liveable habitats in Saskatchewan.
“In Saskatchewan, every 12 months we lose some more of our native habitat to annual arable cropping and people are vital spaces for those pollinators to live out their lives and contribute to our ecosystems as well,” Braun said.
He said certain pesticides also play a very important role in impacting insect populations as well.
If residents do feel compelled to mow their lawn before the month is over, Braun suggested they alter the peak of the lawn mower so the grass can stay longer.
One other approach to help the cause is by growing native perennials in your yard that may flower at different times of the 12 months, Braun said.
Braun estimates that there are over 200 different species of bees present in Saskatchewan.
“Those bees, together with lots of other lesser-known insect pollinators, are chargeable for pollinating not only the flowers that we’ve in our yards, but they’re also chargeable for helping pollinate and increase productivity of the crops that we depend upon on this province,” he said.
Braun also encourages residents to try dandelions in their very own yard and take into consideration what insects are using them before pulling them out.
