City of Columbia becomes an affiliate of Bee City USA

The City of Columbia is joining many other cities and campuses across the countryunited in improving their landscapes for pollinators by becoming an affiliate of Bee City USA.

Thinking globally and acting locally, Bee City USA provides a framework for communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides. Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA are initiatives of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

  The City of Columbia continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering sustainable environments through initiatives that protect and support native pollinators. By joining Bee City USA, Columbia has embraced a framework that not only raises awareness of pollinator decline but also encourages the creation of native habitats, the reduction of pesticides, and the celebration of biodiversity

On August 5, 2025, Columbia City Council unanimously voted to become a Bee City USA®. City Council’s vote was made after a presentation to the Health, Social, and Environmental Affairs Committee members.

“City Council’s unanimous vote to become a Bee City USA is evidence we understand the importance of sustaining pollinators, and we want to make Columbia even more pollinator friendly,” said Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. “We are grateful to CPAC members for bringing this opportunity to our attention; it is something to bee proud of.”

Native bees and other pollinators are keystone species, critical to the reproduction of more than 85% of flowering plants and 67% of agricultural crops. Recognizing these vital contributions, City Council unanimously voted to affiliate with Bee City USA, ensuring Columbia takes an active role in conservation at the local level.

“We are thrilled to have Columbia join the Bee City USA community. There are so many creative ways to integrate quality native pollinator habitat into the city’s landscape–from street trees to green roofs—and I am excited to see how Columbia carries out its pollinator conservation efforts. Columbia is our fifth and largest Bee City in South Carolina and our 240th Bee City nationwide.” – Laura Rost. National Coordinator of Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

For more information about Bee City USA, visit https://www.beecityusa.org/