Working toward a comprehensive partner conservation strategy for the South-Central Great Plains region to aid in the recovery of the monarch butterfly.
Over 200 monarch conservation partners and scientists, representing over 80 different organizations, gathered for a two-day symposium hosted by Texan by Nature at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on May 31-June 1, 2017. The symposium is part of a project funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to develop a comprehensive partnership between government agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, the private sector, and Texas private landowners to identify key strategies for recovery of the monarch in the south-central region of the migratory pathway.
The symposium boasted over 50 speakers and included several working groups and a round of lightning talks by a myriad of experts. Topics ranged from milkweed availability, distribution, and resources, as well as monarch population risks, to private landowner perspectives on monarch conservation. In addition, college students participated by showcasing their monarch-related research during an interactive poster session. Findings from the presentations and working group discussions identified key strategies for successful recovery. These strategies are serving as catalysts for several coordinated efforts among organizations across the south-central range. The project will continue through May 2018.
Texan by Nature successfully completed the goals set by the South-Central Monarch Symposium.
Throughout 2018, working groups formed from the symposium met to discuss data gaps and needs, created and executed a framework for a state plan, and highlighted potential next projects to address pollinator needs. In 2018, an online collaborative community was launched for research and idea sharing; the community currently has 85 experts and 2000 pager views and counting. Texan by Nature presented the results from the 2017 symposium and ensuing efforts to Texas legislators at the pollinator interim charge in late 2018.
In late 2018, Texan by Nature launched a second phase of pollinator initiative in partnership with EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG), with support from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Still Water Foundation to create 350 acres of native pollinator habitat on EOG pipeline rights-of-way and pad sites within their Eagle Ford Shale holdings.
Texan By Nature would like to thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the generous grant that is funding this symposium.
