About 80% of the agricultural crops in British Columbia depend on pollination by bees. Unfortunately honey-bee populations have been drastically reduced by mite infestations that originated from an infested honey-bee population that was illegally imported to Vancouver Island. This decline in honey-bee populations and pollination has meant that our native Blue Orchard or Mason bee (Osmia lignaria Cresson) has become more important to agricultural production dependent on pollination. This is mainly because the Blue Orchard bee is an efficient pollinator.

Vancouver Island is home to an abundance of wildlife and their related ecosystems. Some of these are now threatened due to urban advancement and habitat degradation. Some of the species at risk are as follows:

MARBLED MURRELET

(Brachyramphus marmoratus)