NWF Monarch Heroes Program Overview
- 1. A big thank-you to our sponsors: NWF Monarch Heroes Program NWF is working across the U.S. to help restore the iconic monarch butterfly, whose population has plummeted by more than 90 percent in the past 20 years. The milkweed host plants and other nectar-producing plants that monarchs rely upon for breeding and feeding have largely disappeared due to habitat destruction. Austin and other cities along the I35 migratory corridor are critical stops for migrating monarchs in need of milkweed and nectar plants to sustain them on their journey, and NWF is working to restore habitat in the flyway. Monarch Heroes Partnership with Austin Schools To help build awareness and reverse monarch decline in Austin, NWF launched a Monarch Heroes program with Austin Independent School District (AISD). This environmental education and outreach program engages and empowers AISD students and community members to create critical milkweed habitat. NWF provides training, guidance, and funds for participating schools, to help them implement monarch gardens on their campuses. In year 2 of the project, NWF will help the schools purchase greenhouses and other resources to enable students to propagate and share native milkweed and nectar plants with neighboring schools and communities. Monarch Urban Outreach NWF is working with major cities up and down the central migration flyway from Texas to Missouri to develop and implement monarch conservation plans. We are coordinating efforts between city governments (sustainability offices and parks departments) and their NGO partners (such as local chapters of garden clubs, native plant societies, and Keep America Beautiful chapters) to expand monarch habitat by planting native milkweed and nectar plants and preserving existing habitat. This city by city initiative will bring together a great number and variety of resources, all organized around a common goal – monarch recovery. Austin Houston San Antonio Dallas Fort Worth Corpus Christi Oklahoma City Kansas City St. Louis Indianapolis Monarch Urban Outreach Target Cities: Blanton Elementary Harris Elementary Hill Elementary Mathews Elementary Patton Elementary Burnet Middle School Covington Middle School Martin Middle School Webb Middle School Sadler Young Women’s Leadership Academy 2015-2016 AISD Monarch Heroes Schools: