By Blake Jackson
June is National Pollinator Month, and efforts are growing to raise awareness about the role prairie restoration plays in supporting declining bee, butterfly and insect populations. One such initiative is led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute through its Wisconsin Women in Conservation program.
This program connects women landowners and stewards to educational events and resources focused on conservation. Their goal is to empower women and encourage biodiversity by reintroducing native plant species and restoring habitats essential for pollinators and other wildlife.
"Besides being a place of empowerment for women in this space, which has traditionally been male-led and focused, we are also reminding folks that conservation is a practice that should persist even as our resources are depleted," said Christine Johnson, farmer education coordinator at the institute.
Many women involved in the program are eager to participate in conservation but lack funding or tools. To help, the group organizes events and connects women to support services throughout the year. One such event is scheduled this week, focusing on prairie restoration.
Sally Farrar, a conservation coach, shared her personal experience of restoring 13 acres of prairie land with the help of a grant from the National Resource Conservation Service. Although the first years were challenging, she eventually witnessed a return of hundreds of monarch butterflies, dragonflies, and rare bees—a moment that confirmed her bond with the land.
"One summer, there were hundreds of monarchs, flocks of dragonflies, and the most rare and interesting insects I had ever imagined in my life, just such a variety of bees," said Sally Farrar. "That is the sacred bond with the land."
These initiatives serve as a reminder that small efforts in habitat restoration can help reverse the decline in pollinator populations across the country.
Photo Credit: pexels-pixabay
Categories: Wisconsin, Business