Project to help attract butterflies and bees to volunteers’ neighbourhoods as monarch populations continue to decline
TORONTO — The David Suzuki Foundation began recruiting volunteers this week for year two of its Butterflyway Project, a national effort to bring butterflies and bees to six Canadian cities: Montreal, Scarborough, Markham, Toronto, North Vancouver and Richmond.
Keen residents in each city will be selected and trained as Butterfly Rangers in April. The Foundation will then work with volunteer Rangers to help create patches of butterfly- and bee-friendly habitat in their neighbourhoods. These habitats are needed to support monarch butterfly populations, which have fallen by 15 per cent over the past year and more than 90 per cent over the past two decades.
“The Butterflyway Project’s first year showed there are residents in every neighbourhood who, with a bit of knowledge and support, can make amazing things happen,” said David Suzuki Foundation Butterflyway project lead Jode Roberts. “Last year, Rangers connected with neighbours and community groups to establish pollinator patches that will help feed local bees and butterflies when they need support.”
In 2017, Rangers successfully created butterflyways in five communities: Victoria, Richmond, Markham and Toronto’s Beaches and Cedarvale neighbourhoods. In Quebec, residents can participate in the Butterflyway Project via its sister program, Effet Papillon, which is recruiting 80 Patrouille Papillon (Butterfly Patrol).
This week, the David Suzuki Foundation also launched its second annual national Butterflyway Seed Sale. For the next month, native wildflower seeds are available for sale at davidsuzuki.org/seeds, with proceeds supporting the Butterflyway Project.
The Butterflyway Project is generously supported by Nature’s Way and Cascades.
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For more information, please contact:
Jode Roberts | David Suzuki Foundation | 647-456-9752 | jroberts@davidsuzuki.org | @joderoberts