Background
Monarch Butterflies breed throughout east, west, and southern regions of Ontario and Quebec. CWF partners with organizations in these areas, to provide funding and expertise to habitat restoration projects that benefit this iconic species. Monarch Butterfly conservation is a main focus of these projects, but the meadow habitat created provides feeding and nesting habitat for hundreds of other pollinators and meadow species.
With support from Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the 407 ETR, CWF partners with rights-of-way managers to restore pollinator meadow habitat in Eastern Ontario, Southwestern Ontario, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and Southwestern Quebec.
Objectives
CWF's aim is to actively and passively restore large-scale nectaring and breeding habitat for Monarchs and native pollinators along the Eastern Monarch migratory route.
Key Achievements
- Over 1825 ha of active and passive habitat restoration for pollinators between 2019-2024 in Ontario!
- 48 partners have already committed to pollinator habitat restoration in collaboration with CWF.
- Created a Restoration Dashboard tool that allows partners to map and track their meadow restoration projects.
Interesting Facts
Custom Seeds
CWF’s Restoration Ecologist works with local seed suppliers to create a custom seed mix for each meadow restoration.
20
Restored meadows contain more than 20 blooming native plant species that feed many different pollinators.
3-year Cycle
Restoration sites go through a 3-year germination cycle that we call “sleep - creep – leap!”
Next Steps
Papers & Handouts
Reconsider Mowing
Creating Monarch and Pollinator Habitat
Gardening for Butterflies Handout
Native Seed Selection
Restoring habitat for Monarch in Eastern Ontario
Restoring Pollinator Habitat on Rights-of-Way Workshop Summary Report—Highlights and What We Heard
"A Growing Crisis"
Canadian Wildlife magazine, May/June 2020
Mapping monarch seasonal breeding patterns in Eastern North America to inform mowing strategies for roadsides and other rights-of-ways
Related Resources
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