Exhibit to Kawamura Petition Letter, June 18, 2008

Ag Pollinator Habitat

Partnering to Improve the Health & Effectiveness of
Ag Pollinators in California Agriculture

1. Critical Component in Agriculture. Honeybees, other pollinators and pollination services represent a critical component of sustainable agriculture in California. Pollination services are essential for producers of almonds and a host of other specialty crops in California, totaling several billion dollars annually. Honeybees, beekeepers, the pollination services they provide, and the growers who depend on them, are at serious risk due to a number of major factors--including mites, diseases, and inadequate natural forage.

2. Necessity of Good Forage. A limiting element to honeybee health in California is a major deficit of local forage, both on and adjacent to ag lands, as well as across California.

3. Habitat Helps Pollinator Health. Increasing "bee pasture" and other pollinator habitat on and around agricultural lands where pollination services are needed is an important tool that can be used to improve the health of honeybees and other pollinators.

4. Science of Habitat-Pollinator Health. The scientific nexus of pollinator health and local habitat:

• Plant Pollens Key
  Honey bee health is largely dependent upon the availability of a mixture of nutritious plant pollens.
  No Suitable Artificial Feed
  Unlike the situation in other animal husbandry, no complete substitute feed has been developed for honey bees. Therefore, colony health is dependent upon abundant natural forage.
• Losses of Suitable Forage
  The forage value of remaining agricultural and rural landscapes in California has been reduced by human activities, especially by Òclean farmingÓ and land management practices that include mono cropping, herbicide use, mowing and land clearing.
• Access to Habitat Requires Permission
  Beekeepers must seek permission to locate their apiaries on private and public lands to avoid contact with pesticide applications and to adequately feed their bees. Honeybees Can
• Help Native Pollinators
  Efforts to restore native plants and native pollinators, will only meet with success when proper nesting habitat and proper forage plants are restored for native species. During the transition period to native species, the honey bee can provide the necessary pollination of native plants until the population of native pollinating insects is restored. Studies have demonstrated that honey bees and native bees can share foraging locations without detrimental effects on native pollinators.

5. Partnerships Key. Local partnership efforts involving growers, beekeepers, scientists, native pollinator experts and other key stakeholders can take the lead in enhancing ag pollinator habitat for the benefit of all involved.

6. Public/Conservation Lands Part of the Solution. Changes in management practices and policies related to honeybees by public land management agencies like BLM as well as nonprofit groups like the Nature Conservancy could create additional bee pasture, to the extent native pollinators are not adversely affected, while at the same time benefiting native pollinators and plants.

7. Local Bee Pasture Reduces Risk of Imported Pathogens & Pests. Increasing local bee pasture and other forage in California will reduce the need for imported bee hives for pollination services, and the concomitant risks of transmission of pathogens and pests imported from other regions.

8. Farm Bill Conservation Tools Can Help. New pollinator-beneficial provisions in the Conservation Title of the pending Farm Bill can help provide crucial economic incentives and technical assistance to help growers enhance their operations with pollinator habitat.