FRI-A01: Bees, Butterflies, Beetles—Oh My! Science-Backed Framework for Urban Pollinator Conservation

Friday, October 10, 2025

8:30 AM – 9:45 AM CT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Speaker(s)

Kate Kennen, FASLA

Owner & Principal | Associate Teaching Professor
| Offshoots | Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts
Nicholas Dorian

Ecologist
Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago, Illinois
Luisa Oliveira, ASLA (she/her/hers)

Director, Public Space & Urban Forestry
City of Somerville, MA
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Pollinator ecosystems are unique to every region. How can we create designs and urban action plans to support our specific pollinator neighbors? A conservation biologist will review tools to catalog species and strategies to support less-considered flies, wasps, and beetles. Plant interactions with natives, non-natives, and cultivars will be highlighted.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand a methodology to catalog and study specific pollinator species in an area that can be replicated in other regions.
Learn planting and maintenance strategies for 6 categories of pollinators (bees, wasps, files, butterflies/moths, beetles, and birds), including how to encourage crews, residential clients, and public works departments to change practices
Learn the latest peer-reviewed science on pollinator interaction with non-native vs. native plants, and “nativars” (cultivars vs. straight species), from a conservation biologist.
Learn an open-source framework for integrating ecological research, aesthetics, and community values for pollinator conservation in dense urban areas, including “Pollinator Pantry Recipe Cards” and “Meet Your Pollinator Neighbors” campaigns.