Nongame and Rare Species Program: Native Bee Conservation

Native bees are critical to native plant reproduction and key players in the maintenance of ecosystems across Texas. A significant number of native plants pollinated by these bees produce fruit, nuts, or seeds that thousands of animal species depend upon for food, including some popular game animals. Native bees also play economically important roles in agricultural production. The value of native bees to U.S. agriculture is estimated to be approximately $3 billion annually.

The Nongame and Rare Species Programs has two efforts aimed at fostering native bee conservation in Texas.

• Texas Bumblebees is an initiative to assess the conservation status of these native bees across the state.
• Texas Native Bee Co-op is an effort to promote the management of native bees, and the resources they require, on private lands, from urban backyards to large ranches.