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Roseville 2040 Chapter9: Resilience and Environmental Protection Roseville's Parks and Recreation Department has been aggressive in its efforts to remove invasive/nonnative plant species from City parks, and to restore and manage the native prairie/savannas, woodlands, wetlands, and shorelines. The Parks and Recreation Department has continued that commitment in its current Goals and Policies, described in Chapter 8. In particular, the Natural Resources Management policies speak specifically to the role of the park system in preserving trees and other sensitive habitats. Much of the success of these efforts is due to the physical work of many community volunteers. In 2017, the City partnered with a team of students in the Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management Degree program at the University of Minnesota. The Capstone project's goal was to examine the current tree canopy composition within the city, identify potential threats to the current species (diseases, insects, warmer climate, etc.), and make recommendations to help increase tree diversity. A report was created that highlights specifics about the City's current tree diversity, and is available on the City website, or at City Hall. The report includes six recommendations that will foster programs and actions that will add to the number and diversity of trees in Roseville: • Implement emerald ash borer removal and canopy replacement plans that address treatment and removal costs. • Increase urban canopy and species diversity to ensure resilience against disease and climate change. • Focus on expanding the tree canopy in the designated priority areas. • Conduct a tree survey by volunteers to collect information on the City's urban forest. • Organize an Arbor Day tree sale to engage citizens. • Applyfor grants from several sources tofund planting opportunities. Pollinators Background The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that pollinators play an essential role in the life cycle of almost 90 percent of our earth's plant species. Whether it is a hovering hummingbird, lumbering beetle, or one of over 350 Minnesota bee species visiting a flower in the backyard, these animals and many others contribute to a process called pollination. Examples of pollinators are bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, birds, and bats. Bees have proven to be some of the most effective pollinators, and as a result are the focus of many pollination efforts. Pollination occurs when the pollen from one plant reaches the stigma of another, usually when carried there by a pollinator. This process initiates the formation of Chapter9 I Page 5