The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recently marked National Pollinator Week, and Administrator Michael Regan noted that the commemoration highlights the agency’s focus on protecting endangered pollinators from the effects of pesticides.

In line with the Endangered Species Act Workplan, the agency plans to introduce pilot projects that feature partnerships between the EPA, federal partners, and others to protect endangered pollinators form pesticides, according to a Tuesday press release.

“Pollinators play a vital role in sustaining healthy communities, and EPA’s efforts to protect the more than 200,000 species of pollinators is more important than ever,” Regan said in the release. “This year, I am excited to ramp up collaboration through two new pilot projects with stakeholders and our federal partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Department of Agriculture, as we work to develop practical protections for vulnerable pollinators and their habitats.”

The Endangered Species Act pilot project will help ensure the viability of vulnerable species through the federal mitigation project; the release stated. The project will identify potential measures to protect species that are threatened by pesticides.

The second program, according to the EPA, is its vulnerable species pilot. This will target mitigation opportunities across multiple pesticides. The agency will also create a webpage with information on pest management practices and pollinator protection plans, according to the release.  

The EPA stressed it will work with organizations to educate the public on the importance of pollinator health, the release stated.