Senators give bee, monarch butterfly habitat a boost
Senators give bee, monarch butterfly habitat a boost
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee voted almost unanimously on July 25 for $4 million in funding for the Monarch and Pollinator Highway Program. The grant program aims to transform America’s roadsides into beautiful and thriving bee and monarch butterfly habitat – a critical action to maintain healthy ecosystems and stop the decline of iconic species including the striking orange and black monarchs and the American bumblebee.
Funding for planting native wildflowers will provide nectar to fuel adult monarch butterflies on their remarkable migration and milkweed for them to nourish their young. Milkweed has nearly been eradicated from areas of the Midwest where monarchs are typically born, and many bee species have lost critical food and habitat too.
Reversing this trend by actively restoring milkweed and other pollinator habitat is critical to ensure the long-term survival of some of our favorite species. One of the best places to do this is along America’s roadways, where there are at least 10 million acres of land that could be beautified while helping pollinators.
In its most recent spending bill, senators supported $3 million for the Monarch and Pollinator Highway Program, but the final deal struck with the House of Representatives zeroed out the program. We applaud the Senate for taking action to give bees, butterflies, and other pollinators a better shot at survival. Now, we need the U.S. House of Representatives to get on board and support this small program that gives a big boost to some of our most beloved species.
