Pollinators, such as the Monarch Butterfly, are vital for producing numerous crops, forming a cornerstone of our food security, health, and quality of life. Canada is actively supporting habitat stewardship and conservation projects to restore ecosystems and landscapes that Monarchs need to thrive. These efforts provide a powerful nature-based solution to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss and combat climate change.
Today, during Pollinator Week, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced the Government of Canada is investing up to more than $623,000 in a variety of projects that aim to improve Monarch Butterfly and pollinator habitats in southern Ontario. This work will help to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of important breeding and migratory habitats, as well as the availability of native seeds to support habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation.
Projects include:
- Habitat Restoration to Support Species at Risk Recovery in Middlesex County: $189,750 for Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Middlesex Inc. to conduct environmental stewardship activities on marginal agricultural lands, which will create and enhance Monarch habitats in Middlesex County.
- Project Wingspan: $118,800 for Pollinator Partnership Canada to increase the availability of native seeds to support habitat restoration projects in the Carolinian Zone.
- Restoration of Breeding and Migratory Habitat for Monarchs: up to $258,583 for the Canadian Wildlife Federation to contribute to the recovery of the Monarch population through the creation of nectaring, breeding, and roosting habitats within agricultural and urban landscapes in close proximity to the southern Great Lakes.
- David Dunlap Observatory Phase 3 Meadow Creation: $56,000 for the City of Richmond Hill to increase urban Monarch habitats in Richmond Hill.
This work directly aligns with several targets under the Global Biodiversity Framework, including ecosystem restoration and halting species extinction. It also supports Canada's commitment to the Bonn Challenge, which is a global effort to promote landscape and ecosystem restoration activities. By working together to halt biodiversity loss and prevent the degradation of sensitive ecosystems, we are securing a better future for all living things.
