BALTIMORE, MD—As part of an effort to increase public awareness of the importance of pollinators and their habitat, the Maryland State Highway Administration is expanding its commitment to provide habitat for these beneficial insects and birds.

SHA has installed several new pollinator sites in a number of locations across the state that attract pollinators and serve as educational tools for staff, stakeholders, and customers. These demonstration gardens are part of the agency’s Pollinator Habitat Plan.

In addition to the new pollinator sites, SHA has also installed more than 6 acres of native meadows along roadsides and medians in Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, and Howard counties. These sites are visible from vehicles traveling along the roads.

These demonstration gardens have been installed at the State Highway Administration Headquarters building in Baltimore City, the Hanover Complex, and District Offices located in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, and Prince George’s counties.

SHA is committed to enhancing pollinator habitat, food, shelter, and mobility networks that support Maryland’s wide range of pollinator species. The sites are expected to attract pollinators such as butterflies, bees, beetles, wasps, flies, moths, and birds, which are essential to a healthy environment for the state’s ecosystems.

Maryland is home to more than 400 species of native bees, one of the most important groups of pollinators in the state. The loss of habitat, disease, and insecticide exposure are major threats to pollinator species and their habitats across the nation. SHA’s efforts are part of a broader effort to restore and protect these critical ecosystems.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via State Highway Administration