Background
Across North America, pollinator populations are declining and loss of meadow wildflower habitat is a primary reason for this decline. Rights-of-way (roadsides, utility corridors, solar farms) offer a unique opportunity for supporting pollinators. Vegetation management on rights-of-way (ROW) can provide conditions similar to native meadow habitat, which is required for the Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators. Techniques to establish sustainable, pollinator-friendly habitats on rights-of-way have been developed and found to be cost-effective over the long term. This type of habitat conversion can also provide positive bottom-line outcomes and corporate social responsibility targets.
The Canadian Wildlife Federation has developed a program to support rights-of-way managers in restoring habitat for pollinators. This work provides resources for migrating Monarch butterflies and helps store carbon in the ground.
Objectives:
- Building a network of ROW managers (examples: roadways, hydro transmission lines, solar farms, pipelines) for pollinator meadow habitat restoration
- Organizing and facilitating peer-to-peer technical training in habitat restoration (examples: webinars and workshops)
- Increasing the area of habitat restoration along ROW corridors
- Working with ROW partners to implement restoration projects in eastern Ontario
- Aiming to restore 7.3 kilometres2 (1,803 acres) of pollinator habitat on rights-of-way in Eastern Ontario with support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation by 2023.
CWF gratefully acknowledges the support of
Key Achievements
- 6.85 kilometres2 (1,690 acres) of rights-of-way have been improved by active and/or passive restoration in Eastern Ontario (as of 2021)!
- More than 42 acres of pollinator meadow were actively restored in SW Ontario in 2021!
- Established two Communities of Practice for ROW Managers.
- Four Rights-of-Way Annual workshops since 2019.
- Three webinars per year in our series for ROW Managers.
- 415 rights-of-way managers across Canada and the United States have received training on rights-of-way habitat restoration through the provision of online webinars and workshop sessions.
Rights-of-Way Habitat Restoration Network
As part of the Rights-of-Way Habitat Networks, the Canadian Wildlife Federation is building a network of ROW managers who are interested in learning and applying these new integrated vegetation management techniques to help restore habitat for pollinators. These networks facilitate peer-to-peer technical training in habitat restoration (through meetings, webinars and workshops). Thus, the area of habitat restoration along public and utility transportation corridors increases.
There are three levels to the network:
Join the Canada-wide or regional networks
Any group in Canada wanting to learn how to restore ROW may join our networks to receive free training and valuable peer learning experiences.
Managing Rights-of-Way for Pollinators “A Practical Guide for Managers”
Download this free Southeastern Ontario guide for ROW Managers that provides a detailed introduction to habitat restoration on rights-of-way. This guide provides an overview of what pollinator habitat is along with details on both passive and active restoration and how to adapt your integrated vegetation management plan. It provides a high-level strategy to start restoring pollinator habitat including choosing a site, site preparation, choosing native seeds and seeding and maintaining your meadow.
Training Opportunities
Rights-of-Way Webinars
The CWF ROW Habitat Restoration program offers a series of webinars on ROW restoration techniques and best practices each winter.
Annual ROW Workshop
This workshop-networking event is an opportunity for ROW managers to learn about best practices, vegetation management techniques and other valuable skills and procedures for managing ROW as habitat alongside their peers. Join the ROWHWG to be one of the first to be notified about the annual workshop!
Papers & Handouts
Blogs
Read all about it on the CWF Blog! Find posts on pollinators in action, native seed programs, helping the Monarch Butterfly, Rights-of-Way habitat restoration and more!
Meet The Team
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The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $108 million to 629 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.
