Although revegetation efforts for pollinators can be one of the most expensive types of restoration goals [1], pollinator habitat enhancement can indirectly benefit lots of other ecosystem services [2]. Generally, pollinators require plants that flower at different times during the growing season, which enhances resource availability (see an example). Strategic placement of restoration throughout a landscape can also enhance pollinator habitat. For example, since Monarchs in Arizona use riparian areas as movement corridors [3], restoring forbs (when appropriate) to these areas can benefit butterflies directly. Moreover, planting in clumps, rather than a regular, spaced pattern across a landscape can enhance pollinator services [4].
Resources
- Southwest Monarch Study Restoration Guide
- NRCS Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation
- Pollinator Conservation Resources for the Southwest
- BMP for pollinators on western Rangelands
- Native Pollinator Habitat Requirements
- Pollinator Partnership: Programs, Consulting, Resources
- BMP from the EPA
- Pollinator gardening tips from the National Wildlife Federation
- Tips for Attracting Butterflies from the National Wildlife Federation
- Best butterfly plants for southern Arizona
- Pollinator plants for the desert southwest - Native Milkweeds
- Riparian habitat management
- Plants for enhancing pollinator habitat in Arizona
- American semidesert and desert province pollinator guide
- Ecoregional revegetation assistance tool