Back to Natives is raising funds to restore the habitat for monarch butterflies at the Back to Natives Native Plant Reserve in Dana Point, CA. The project will focus on planting and/or seeding with locally native milkweed species. Numerous locally native nectar plants will also be included with the goal of creating a monarch breeding and migration habitat. The project will be carried out by high school and college volunteers participating in a service learning program.
There has been a significant 40% decline in the western monarch population. According to the Western Monarch Overwintering Population Counts, many southern California monarch overwintering sites had fewer monarchs than the year prior. There is much work to do to ensure a positive direction for monarchs and the conservation of their habitat. The environmental issue of ecosystem protection is of vital importance to monarchs, our community, and beyond.
The 2.5 acres of land along Del Obispo Drive in Dana Point are about a mile from the Pacific Ocean, less than a mile from San Juan Creek, and less than 2 miles from the Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area. It is undeveloped and will remain so to provide habitat for birds and butterflies. The project will focus on creating habitat for the Monarch butterfly, including planting and/or seeding with locally native milkweed species. Numerous locally native nectar plants will also be included.
Habitat at the Reserve will be restored, providing a viable island of habitat for monarchs and other butterflies and birds at this waystation between San Juan Creek and the Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area. 300+ volunteers will participate in the service learning program, putting in 900+ hours of habitat restoration services. Participants will understand the importance of habitat restoration and biodiversity, and exhibit increased interest, awareness and engagement in conservation.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
