Pollinators

Pollinators like bees and butterflies are critical to the health of our ecosystems and essential to producing many of the foods we love.

Pollinators are responsible for as much as one third of food we consume! Unfortunately, populations of pollinating insects are declining and some formerly common species are now at risk of extinction. There are many reasons for pollinator decline, but habitat loss is one key factor.

TVA is playing an important role in slowing or even reversing this decline by encouraging native wildflowers and grasses on transmission line rights of way and other lands. Specifically, we create and maintain habitat for pollinators by:

• Using integrated vegetation management, including selective use of herbicide, to clear trees from transmission line rights of way
• Managing grasslands on TVA land for native plants, on which pollinators depend
• Planting wildflowers native to the TVA service area on sites that were previously mowed turf grass

Pollinator News

From the Field

Collective Efforts

Click to view a live map and the pollinator dashboard.

TVA participates in Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Power-in-Pol­linator initiative, which collects information about what various utilities are doing on-the-ground to protect pollinators in order to show the collective result of these efforts.

View a map, photos and details of these pollinator projects on the EPRI Pollinator Stewardship Dashboard. Note: To only view TVA's projects, filter the Company by "Tennessee Valley Authority".

How You Can Help

• Plant native flowers that attract bees, butterflies and moths
• Reduce use of chemicals on your property
• Select native plants in landscaping your lawn
• Buy food products that are habitat friendly (e.g., Bee Better certified)