Press Release: 6/20/2025
Massachusetts’ pollinators need more support
JUNE 19, 2025
MEDIA CONTACTS
Legislative Director, MASSPIRG
617-747-4319
dcummings@masspirg.org
Senior Director, Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Environment America
BOSTON – As National Pollinator Week – which began on Monday – flies by, pollinator populations across the United States need to be protected from dangerous pesticides and habitat loss.
During its related research, outreach and education efforts, MASSPIRG and Environment Massachusetts found that, while Massachusetts has taken some concrete action, it still trails other leading pollinator-friendly states.
“Though Massachusetts trails some other states in its pollinator protections, the news isn’t all bad,” said Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director, MASSPIRG. “Removing consumer sales of bee-killing pesticides was a good start, but we need to address seeds coated with these pesticides if we want to retake our leadership position.”
In 2021, Massachusetts restricted the use of bee-killing pesticides called neonicotinoids (“neonics”), a list that has now grown to 12 states. However, it has yet to address agricultural seeds coated with neonics, which would mirror similar policies in Vermont and New York. Using coated seeds disperses pollinator-killing chemicals throughout growing plants and into the soil and groundwater. Massachusetts could also join Minnesota and California to block neonic usage on state lands.
“Bees and butterflies play an outsized role in creating the natural wonders we enjoy across our state, from flowers to food,” said Johanna Neumann, Acting Director, Environment Massachusetts. “But we haven’t done our part here in Massachusetts to maintain the habitats that they need to thrive. As a result, pollinator populations are suffering. We need to take decisive action now.”
Inhospitable environments created by human activities, such as the elimination of native flowering plants used for foraging and habitat used for nesting, distinctly threaten pollinator species. Massachusetts has a program to expand pollinator habitat on state lands, but has yet to establish a similar initiative for native plants on roadsides.
For their new snapshot of state actions to protect pollinators, MASSPIRG and Environment Massachusetts sought information from a variety of sources to compare five key pollinator protection policies.
Massachusetts checked the box on two of the five categories analyzed.
- Restrict the sale to consumers of neonics. [YES]
- A plan for pollinator-friendly habitat on state lands. [YES]
- Restrict the process of coating seeds with neonics. [NO]
- Block the use of neonics in state wildlife areas and similar lands. [NO]
- A plan to plant pollinator-friendly plants along state roadsides. [NO]
“Though Massachusetts should be proud of the steps we’ve already taken, our state is not as safe for pollinators as it should be. Let’s fill in the common-sense gaps that remain,” concluded Cummings.