Evanston residents launch pollinator pathways to boost biodiversity

In Evanston, residents are participating in ‘Bees on the Block,’ an action research project designed to increase pollinator abundance and diversity by transforming front yards into pollinator pathways. Led by urban ecologist Libby Shafer, the initiative aims to create connected garden patches that allow insects to travel between habitats without exhaustion, while maintaining genetic diversity through mixed populations.

The project seeks to challenge the prevailing ‘lawn culture’ in the United States, a social norm established in the post-World War II era that prioritizes weed-free, non-native grass like Kentucky bluegrass. Shafer notes that while social pressure often encourages neighbors to maintain pristine, uniform lawns, collective action can shift these norms toward planting native flowering species that support local ecosystems. To date, the project has engaged 60 households across five blocks.