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128 <br />Pollinator Friendly Habitat <br />The City desires to encourage more pollinator friendly habitat for a multitude of reasons. First and <br />foremost, Ramsey desires to ensure the sustainability of food supply and the food web, which relies <br />heavily on pollinators. By promoting pollinator friendly practices and initiatives, the City not only <br />helps foster the concept of local food through opportunities such as a local farmer's market, but also <br />encourages the protection, restoration, and/or establishment of pollinator habitat. <br />Broadly speaking, pollinator habitat generally consists of native plants, shrubs and trees. Native <br />species are generally more drought tolerant and require fewer inputs, such as water (irrigation) <br />and chemicals (fertilizers and herbicides). Thus, by establishing more pollinator friendly habitat, <br />the demand on groundwater for irrigation purposes should decrease. Furthermore, the reduced <br />need for chemical applications should lower the potential of groundwater and/or surface water <br />contamination from inappropriate application of these products on the landscape. <br />Protecting, restoring, and/or establishing pollinator habitat also creates habitat for a variety of <br />wildlife. Where feasible, conglomerations of pollinator friendly landscapes can become the basis <br />for wildlife corridors and potentially even a greenway corridor. Even small patches, such as a <br />backyard butterfly garden, of pollinator friendly habitat can be beneficial for many pollinators <br />whose populations are declining as habitat loss continues to increase. <br />Mayors for Monarchs <br />The City has taken the Mayors for Monarchs Pledge to affirm its support not only for the iconic <br />monarch butterfly, but also for pollinators in general, whose habitat continues to be fragmented <br />and/or destroyed. <br />Figure 29: Mayors for Monarchs <br />city of RAMSEY <br />August 2018 Draft <br />Comprehensive Plan 2040 <br />