Background

Monarch Butterflies breed throughout east, west, and southern regions of Ontario and Quebec. CWF partners with organizations in these areas, to provide funding and expertise to habitat restoration projects that benefit this iconic species. Monarch Butterfly conservation is a main focus of these projects, but the meadow habitat created provides feeding and nesting habitat for hundreds of other pollinators and meadow species.

With support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the 407 ETR, CWF partners with rights-of-way managers to restore pollinator meadow habitat in Eastern Ontario, Southwestern Ontario, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and Southwestern Quebec.

Key Achievements

• More than 1795 ha of active and passive habitat restoration for pollinators between 2019-2024 in Ontario!
• 15 partners have already committed to pollinator habitat restoration in collaboration with CWF.
• Created a Restoration Dashboard tool that allows partners to map and track their meadow restoration projects.

My work focuses on the conservation of species at risk in Canada. I am interested in understanding the factors that put species at risk and then determining how to reduce the impact of these factors to recover populations. My team and I look for compatibility with farming practices and business practices on roadways and rights-of-way with the recovery of species at risk.

Victoria works at the Canadian Wildlife Federation as a Habitat Program Manager. She studied transboundary conservation issues while completing her Master of Science degree and continues this work through the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Program and as a council member for the Right-of-Way Stewardship Council. Victoria works closely with land managers providing training and networking opportunities on best management practices for meadow restoration in support of the creation of pollinator habitat.

Michelle is a wildlife biologist with specialties in landscape ecology and pollinator conservation. She has a Master of Science degree in Biology, and has worked on conservation strategies and education for nearly 20 years. Michelle supports many of the Monarch and pollinator projects at CWF through partnership development and consulting.

Tracey works as a Restoration Ecologist with CWF. She studied restoration ecology through her Masters of Science. She uses this background and her working experience to advise, plan and monitor meadow restoration projects for pollinators.