The Butterfly Heroes Campaign asks Americans to submit a photo of themselves making the international sign language sign of the butterfly at NWF.org/ButterflyHeroes. By taking the pledge, participants will be mailed a free kit (while supplies last) and if entered by June 1, are eligible for a chance to win a trip for four to Walt Disney World in Orlando.
The population of Monarch butterfly populations was at one billion as recently as 1996, but numbers have declined as much as 90 percent in recent years, a result of numerous threats, particularly loss of habitat due to agricultural practices, development and cropland conversion. Degradation of wintering habitat in Mexico and California has also had a negative impact on the species, though numbers in Mexico showed signs of a small rebound this winter.
As part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife program, Butterfly Heroes seeks to connect gardeners, kids and families alike to help create new habitats for monarch butterflies. With monarchs currently migrating north through the United States on their way to their summer homes, it’s essential for their survival that they find plenty of milkweed along the way. Butterfly gardens are a great way to provide sustainable habitats in small spaces. Botanical Interests is supporting the campaign with a donation of native milkweed seeds.
Planting milkweed or nectar plant seeds provides essential elements of butterfly habitat: food, water, cover and a place for monarchs to raise their young. Add a water source - such as a birdbath filled with pebbles or mud for pollinators to land upon to get a drink - and your Butterfly Hero garden qualifies as an official National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Subaru has joined Butterfly Heroes as the official presenting sponsor for 2016, as part of its efforts to restore monarch numbers through its “Subaru Loves the Earth” initiative. Through this partnership, Subaru will distribute 50,000 NWF Butterfly Heroes garden kits and install hundreds of demonstration gardens at its retailers across the U.S. In addition to its contribution to Butterfly Heroes, Subaru’s U.S. automotive plant in Indiana was the first and only automotive plant to earn Certified Wildlife Habitat certification through NWF’s Garden for Wildlife program. Since May of 2004, all Subaru vehicles have been manufactured in a zero landfill plant, where 100 percent of manufacturing waste is either recycled or turned into electricity. To learn more about Subaru Loves the Earth and the environmental work Subaru does, visit Subaru.com/environment.
“Through our ‘Subaru Loves the Earth’ initiative, we are always looking for opportunities to help raise awareness of critical issues affecting wildlife and our environment and we’re excited to work alongside the National Wildlife Federation to empower thousands of Butterfly Heroes nationwide,” said Alan Bethke, vice president of marketing at Subaru of America.
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