Why Develop And Protect Pollinator Habitats in Rights of Way?

Historically, agriculture has been, and continues to be important to the Pennsylvania economy.  Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, increased pesticide use and introduced diseases threaten the pollinators on which we depend for food crops and a sustainable agricultural economy. In fact the declining numbers of several species have been so significant that these species are under review for listing as federal threatened and endangered species, including the migratory Monarch Butterfly.

Highway rights-of-way have been recognized nationally as lands that have potential to provide habitats for pollinators and support corridor connectivity for pollinators.  PennDOT's Pollinator Habitat Plan, will in partnership with other federal and state agencies, private and community organizations, create naturalized gardens and meadows planted with pollinator-friendly plant species at designated sites. Sites within rest areas and welcome centers will provide additional public education benefit.

Goals

• Plant. Support the establishment of seasonal flowers that are pollinator host and forage plants at designated sites and apply integrated vegetation management (IVM) to sustain the developed habitats.
• Protect. Minimize vehicle/pollinator conflicts through well planned site selection and designation.
• Partner. Successfully partner with local community organizations through the PennDOT Adopt and Beautify Program to establish sites.
• Promote. Provide educational signage, literature and web-media information about pollinators and their habitats in ROWs.

Adopt & Beautify for Pollinators

The PennDOT Adopt and Beautify Program is an expansion of our roadside clean-up Adopt a Highway Program. Volunteer groups can enhance PennDOT planting efforts and can support pollinator conservation by adopting, planting and maintaining a PennDOT designated Pollinator Habitat site. For an application and planting resource information, visit the Adopt and Beautify page.

Prelisting Pollinator Conservation Program

The program was developed in accordance with USFWS Policy Regarding Voluntary Prelisting Conservation Actions, Fish and Wildlife Service Manual at Part 735 (5/31/2018) (PDF).  PennDOT administers the program and self-certifies available credits with review and oversight by the PennDOT Pollinator Work Group.

The program has been developed as a living program document with associated updates and resources accessible to the public through this page.

How It Works

PennDOT receives credits for various types of conservation actions that benefit pollinator species.  These credits can be used to offset future actions from roadway projects that may negatively affect the pollinator species.

Three Types of Conservation Actions:

• Conservation mowing - mowing some areas of rights-of-way, depending on safety considerations, less frequently to promote growth of native nectar producing plants and applying seasonal restrictions to assure availability of host plant species (milkweed) along the roadside for pollinator reproduction.
  

• Daylighting - removing tree canopy overgrowth along the roadside.  This allows light to reach native plants growing along the roadside.  
  

• Planting Pollinator Habitat - planted areas designed to include pollinator plant species that create habitat for pollinators.  Volunteer groups can enhance PennDOT planting efforts and can support pollinator conservation by adopting, planting and maintaining a Keystone Pollinator Habitat site. For an application and planting resource information, visit the Adopt and Beautify page.