A bevy of public events hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners will be held around the nation to mark National Pollinator Week June 17-23. Activities will highlight pollinator species and focus on their crucial importance to other wildlife, plants and people.

"Pollinators on our nation's public and private lands play a key role in keeping our ecosystems diverse, which in turn provides for healthy habitats and economies," said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, who recently signed a 2013 National Pollinator Week proclamation. "We appreciate the important public-private partnerships that are working together to encourage the long-term health of pollinating creatures."

"Without pollinators, life on Earth would be scarcely recognizable. We depend on these amazing insects and animals for the clothes we wear, the houses we live in, and the food we eat," said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. "Every American should be concerned about alarming declines in our nation's pollinators, but fortunately everyone can pitch in to help them."

Pollinators are essential to agriculture and forestry, pollinating more than 150 different kinds of fruits, vegetables and nuts that provide a third of the nation's food and beverages. In the United States alone, pollinators enable people to produce about $20 billion-worth of products every year. In addition, more than 75 percent of flowering plants are pollinated by animals.

The Service and its partners will celebrate National Pollinator Week with educational awareness events and conservation projects. To find a Pollinator Week Event near you, visit: http://pollinator.org/npw_events.htm

For additional information about how you can help pollinators, visit http://www.fws.gov/pollinators. Download a free ecoregional guide online at www.pollinator.org to determine pollinator-friendly plants for your area. Find information about local native plant societies and nurseries that sell native plants at: http://www.plantnative.org/

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq