Desert botanical garden will develop statewide conservation plans for at-risk pollinators with the arizona monarch collaborative, a group of approximately eighty organizations

The Desert Botanical Garden Inc. was awarded a $486,812 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America (MFA) program. The grant will support the development of statewide conservation plans for at-risk pollinators in Arizona, in collaboration with the Arizona Monarch Collaborative, a group of approximately 80 organizations.

Specifically, the project will focus on maintaining and updating the existing Arizona Monarch Conservation Plan, as well as developing a new Arizona Native Pollinator Plan. Grant activities will include coordinating annual meetings, recruiting new participants, and increasing community outreach and engagement with conservation professionals and the public. The project leverages insights from a previous pilot program to expand the sharing of resources and promote community science participation in pollinator conservation efforts. The grant period is from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027.

The project will focus on maintaining and updating the arizona monarch conservation plan and developing a new arizona native pollinator plan. Project staff and volunteers will coordinate with collaborating partners across eleven states to hold annual meetings, recruit new participants, and increase community outreach. Informed by a previous pilot program, this project will expand the sharing of resources amongst conservation professionals and outreach community science participants. Beneficiaries of the project will include conservation professionals and members of the public interested in learning more about pollinator conservation.