It is estimated that in the past 20 years, the Monarch population has declined from 1 billion to less than 60 million. One of the most prominent factors that contributed to the steep population decline is the loss of habitat and food sources. As a result, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have provided grant funds to the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB)  to assist in enhancing and restoring the Monarch butterfly habitat. The project will provide funding to develop conservation plans and plant pollinator-friendly plant species on 1,600 acres of rural Texas lands along the Monarch’s migratory pathway. The funds made available to farmers, ranchers or private landowners will pay $375 per acre to cover seed cost, planting and maintenance of the land on tracts of land between 1 and 30 acres. Read more…