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SALT LAKE CITY — A pilot program established in 2021 to help pollinators in Utah has enjoyed success and is helping residents, communities and other entities to plant pollinator-friendly plants to encourage their survival.
The situation is dire. Monarch butterflies, while once prevalent, are in drastic decline. While once a thing of beauty from one's childhood memories, they are seldom seen in urbanized areas. Colony collapse has affected about 52% of managed bees in Utah, with them dying off, explained Jim Bowcutt, with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
Rep. Ashlee Matthews, D-West Jordan, is sponsoring HB251 to make the program permanent.
"So since the inception of the program, 679 individuals have used the program and have put pollinator friendly habitats within their farms, on their property. It's been a really big win for the rural community, and that allows them to be involved in conservation as well. Some 131,000 native plants have been distributed across the landscape," Bowcutt said. "Another thing is kind of a secondary benefit. We didn't necessarily realize this was going to happen when we did it, but after the fact, it makes a lot of sense. Because of this program, over 40 acres of lawn have been replaced with native plants."
Bowcutt explained the need for an established pollinator program.
"So currently, 75% to 80% of flowering plants in the United States depend upon pollinators for survival. One in three bites of our food depend on pollination, and 50% of the world's oils, fiber and raw material depend on pollination. So every apple, every cucumber, every pumpkin that you have is dependent upon that cross-pollination that these native pollinators have."
There is also federal oversight — and some may say overreach — that could happen if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service follows through on its consideration of adding the Monarch butterfly to the Endangered Species List. Such a designation for the Monarch butterfly would come with its own set of complications.
In December 2024, the federal agency proposed to list the butterfly as threatened.
Public comments on the proposal will be accepted through March 12.
"The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating lifecycle. Despite its fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director Martha Williams.
"If this is listed, there's a really good chance that it's going to dictate how you utilize pesticides, where you can apply it, what types of pesticides you can apply. It could dictate, potentially, how landowners manage their ditch banks, how they manage their pastures. It could impact development and where you can and cannot develop," Bowcutt said. "We need to be proactive, I guess, in our fight to be able to protect the pollinator habitat throughout the United States."
The Utah agency worked with Utah State University to acquire seeds for pollinator friendly plants — for both northern Utah and southern Utah, with its differing climates.
Those seeds are available to the public through the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
Matthews' bill passed unanimously out of the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee on Monday.
