The Rights of Pollinators: An Interview with Melody Daugherty of Manitou Pollinators

When asked about the significance of pollinators, Co-Founder of Manitou Pollinators Melody Daugherty explained, “One out of three bites of food is a result of pollination.” In our interview, Melody shares how humans can ensure the utmost protection for pollinator species such as bees, butterflies, birds, moths, and bats, which play a critical role in our daily lives.  

Manitou Pollinators, a group based out of Manitou Springs in Colorado, recognized the significance of pollinators and now works to enhance the natural environment to restore and aid their populations. The Manitou Pollinators is working with the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER) to establish the first Rights of Pollinators Ordinance and are improving pollinator protection through other local projects in their community. Read on to learn more about pollinators, what you can do to protect them, and watch the full interview with Melody at the bottom of this page.  

Why do pollinators need our help? 

The winter of 2018 and 2019 saw a massive collapse of bee colonies in Manitou Springs. Such is the case outside of Manitou Springs too, as pollinators worldwide are under threat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes significant annual declines in honey bee colonies since 2006 due to Colony Collapse Disorder, a condition likely caused by an array of stressors, including habitat loss, pesticides, effects of climate variability, and crop management practices. Other pollinators similarly react to these stressors, resulting in an overall decline in pollinator populations. Without efforts to protect pollinators, our food production systems and the balance of the web of life are put at risk.  

In response to the bee colony collapse in 2018 and 2019, the Manitou Pollinators formed out of a group of concerned citizens who aim to protect, maintain, and enhance the natural environment for bee populations. Since then, their mission expanded to include all pollinators and create a more pollinator-friendly city. 

Manitou Pollinators at Work 

The Manitou Pollinators have done a lot of exciting work to ensure pollinator protection in their community. In 2019, the Manitou Pollinators partnered with the City of Manitou Springs in the adoption of an Environmental Resolution, which established a commitment to organic land management practices to protect pollinators. Specifically, the city’s Integrated Pest Management strategy deems chemical usage, such as herbicides and pesticides, as a last line of defense against weeds and insects that are harmful to the urban tree canopy. 

The Manitou Pollinators are also partnering with the Butterfly Pavilion, the first accredited non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world and a leader in invertebrate research. Together, these two organizations are in the process of establishing Manitou Springs as a certified Pollinator District, which can take up to five years to complete. A Pollinator District is a holistic commitment by a community, including schools, the local municipality, and businesses, to improve pollinator habitat and well-being. This commitment is achieved through research, education, and habitat restoration. To learn more about becoming a certified Pollinator District, visit butterflies.org/pollinatordistricts/.  

The Rights of Pollinators 

The Manitou Pollinators is creating the first Ordinance to acknowledge the Rights of Pollinators, a first-of-its-kind law to recognize the legal rights of pollinator species. In Melody’s perspective, “They [pollinators] as a species have the same right as you do, and I do to exist--to have a safe, chemical-free environment.” The Ordinance would establish legal rights of pollinators and improve pollinator habitat by prohibiting the use of neonicotinoids (widely-used, harmful pesticides) by government and private entities. This pioneering work provides a template for other communities to recognize the Rights of Pollinators. CDER provided assistance with the drafting of the Rights of Pollinators Ordinance and assists with Rights of Nature measures worldwide. 

The Rights of Pollinators stems from the Rights of Nature movement, which secures legal rights of the natural environment, including ecosystems and species. Just as nature protects human life, humans must provide protection for nature. The Rights of Nature movement represents a shift in the relationship that humans have with the natural environment from one of exploitation to a reciprocal relationship of care and support. As part of this, the Rights of Pollinators provides protection for these species. As Melody explained, pollinators help sustain food systems and maintain the web of life. 

Acknowledgment of Indigenous Peoples 

As an indigenous woman, Melody believes that pollinators deserve rights as a fellow species. She explains, “Pollinators do not discriminate on the basis of land, property, wealth, status, race, gender, and anything like that...As an indigenous person, that’s what [indigenous peoples] refer to as Natural Law.”  

Environmental law has long excluded indigenous peoples from decision-making processes regarding the natural environment. Traditional ecological knowledge is a vital resource in these decisions, as it contains a wealth of information and values passed down through multiple generations. Recognizing this, the Right of Pollinators Ordinance acknowledges local indigenous peoples, including the Cheyenne, Mountain Ute, the Southern Ute, and Arapaho, who consider Manitou Springs sacred. 

What Can You Do in Your Community? 

“Anybody can do anything. Everybody can do something.” These are the inspiring words of Melody Daugherty, as she discusses what everyone can do to protect pollinators. As she told me, individually or in our own communities, we all have a role we can play to be aware of pollinators, appreciate their existence, and advocate for their well-being.  

To learn more about planting your own pollinator garden, visit the website for your state wildlife agency to find resources with pollinator-friendly plants you can grow in your backyard to provide a healthy and viable habitat. Additionally, the Pollinator Partnership has plant mixture packets for purchase that are specified by region (in the United States). These resources can be found at pollinator.org/shop/seeds.  

Not a gardener? That’s okay! You can help raise awareness of the Rights of Pollinators by learning more about pollinators where you live, acknowledging their right to exist and thrive, and connecting with your fellow community members.  

If you are interested in advancing the Rights of Pollinators in your own community, reach out to CDER at info@centerforenvironmentalrights.org.