$5.2M in grants to boost pollinator habitats
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced that $5.2 million in grants will support pollinator conservation in 24 states.
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The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced that $5.2 million in grants will support pollinator conservation in 24 states, benefiting monarch butterflies, bumble bees and other critical pollinators. With $5 million in matching contributions, the initiative will have a $10.2 million conservation impact.
Seventeen projects funded through the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund will restore over 26,000 acres of pollinator habitat, propagate 3,000 milkweed seedlings, and enhance conservation outreach with more than 190 workshops. Milkweed and nectar plants, essential for pollinators, are central to the effort.
“Monarch butterflies and pollinators make essential contributions to natural ecosystems, agriculture and the economy,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of the foundation.
Habitat loss has caused an 80% decline in monarch populations over the past 20 years. The grants aim to reverse this trend through partnerships involving private landowners and public agencies.
The conservation fund, launched in 2015, has supported 156 projects with $72.9 million in combined contributions. These efforts benefit agriculture and biodiversity by restoring pollinator populations critical to ecosystems and crop productivity.