The Xerces Society has accepted and approved UNM-Taos’ application to be designated as a Bee Campus USA. This designation will help UNM-Taos to advance and create more visibility for its pollinator education and conservation efforts.
To maintain the designation, the institution has agreed to the following commitments:
- Establish a standing Bee Campus USA committee to advocate for pollinators.
- Create and enhance pollinator habitat on campus by increasing the abundance of native plants and providing nest sites.
- Reduce the use of pesticides.
- Offer courses or continuing education opportunities that incorporate pollinator conservation.
- Offer service-learning projects to enhance pollinator habitat.
- Display signage focused on pollinator conservation.
- Maintain an online presence for your Bee Campus USA activities.
- Pay an initial application fee and an annual renewal fee.
- Annually apply for renewal and report on the previous year’s activities.
Additionally, the Xerces Society required the establishment of a formal committee with particular types of membership.
Committee Members
- Catherine Brandenburg, chair, department administrator I
- Alejandra Villalobos Sr., co-chair, institutional researcher
- Dawn Kittner, member, director of Nursing
- Michael Cabral Sr., member, project construction manager
- Paralee King, member, program manager, K-12 Education
- Roberta Chambers, member, Native Plant Society of New Mexico (community)
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is a nonprofit environmental organization that focuses on the conservation of invertebrates considered to be essential to biological diversity and ecosystem health. It is named in honor of an extinct California butterfly, the Xerces blue.
UNM-Taos thanks the BeeCause team’s efforts to learn about and care for the apiary and for the widespread campus support.