Today’s showers provided a nice reprieve as the Kootenay Native Plant Society (KNPS) and Wildsight’s Youth Climate Corps joined forces at Nelson’s Monarch Waystation, planting over 60 native nectar species that will support migrating monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
“The monarch waystations are habitat stopping points on the migrational path of the western monarch butterfly, which is endangered internationally.” Said Angeline Emmott, Kootenay Native Plant Society outreach coordinator.
“The Monarch Waystation shows what’s possible when the City of Nelson, Wildsight Youth Climate Corps, and KNPS work together with a shared goal,” said Angeline Emmott, Kootenay Native Plant Society outreach coordinator.
“It exemplifies the potential of what these more projects like this could be like,”
The Monarch Waystation project began in partnership with the City of Nelson’s FireSmart program and is a central piece of KNPS’ ‘Milkweeds and Monarchs’ program. This community-led conservation effort aims to restore native milkweed populations and ensure critical breeding habitat for the endangered Western Monarch butterfly.
“This isn’t just about planting flowers, it’s about creating stepping stones for monarchs, deepening our local biodiversity, and supporting people who want to make a difference right where they live.” says Valerie Huff, Executive Director of KNPS.
Waystations like the one in Nelson provide vital habitat that supports the Monarch life cycle and strengthens local ecosystem health. There are six sites in total across the Kootenays- two in Rosemont, one in downtown Nelson, one in Robson, and one in Nakusp.
“From Nelson, Arrow Lakes, and then up to Nakusp is our zone, connecting the habitat for monarchs, so we’re adding in more habitat for them along their journey.” said Angeline.
On site today, KNPS recognized Wildsight’s Youth Climate Corps efforts and support foe this ongoing project.
“A big part of projects like this is the large-scale landscape effect you can have, and often, small locations close together, like having multiple patches of these, can be more effective than a large provincial park.” said Brianna Thompson, West Kootenay Climate Corps.
Today also marks the launch of KNPS’ ‘Plants for Restoration’ initiative.
Through this program, KNPS is offering free milkweed and nectar plants to community-led restoration projects throughout the West Kootenay.
In return, recipients agree to care for the plants and monitor for monarch activity as part of a citizen science effort to track and support Western Monarch migration.
The program is open now through July 2025. To apply for free plants, or learn more, visit: https://kootenaynativeplants.ca/plants-for-restoration-spring-2025/.
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