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<\/a>In response to the monarch\u2019s dramatic decline, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has called for 50,000 acres of restored habitat by 2030 \u2013 representing an urgent need for California ag leaders to find ways to incorporate native insect habitat into commercial food production.<\/p>\n
Rare project seeks to bring orchards alive with insects<\/strong><\/p>\n To meet the WAFWA restoration target and maximize public conservation dollars, my EDF colleagues and I have been working with a coalition of partners including the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the USDA Agriculture Research Service to establish conservation projects that achieve benefits beyond pollinator habitat restoration \u2013 like increasing soil health, enhancing water management and possibly helping control pests. A unique conservation project is documenting how planting native wildflowers in cover crops helps insects and tree nut growers alike. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Two farms \u2013 Pacific Gold Agriculture and ByPass Farms \u2013 have committed to restoring 325 total acres of pecan orchards using a cover crop mix that includes eight native wildflowers. Together, the farms are serving as a demonstration project \u2013 aptly named \u201cOrchards Alive\u201d \u2013 to see if these multiple benefits can be achieved over the next two-and-a-half year project timeline.<\/p>\n My EDF colleagues and I will be monitoring and evaluating the sites for plant diversity and habitat functionality for the monarch butterfly, while NCAT will be conducting weekly insect monitoring protocols to assess pest pressure on the pecan trees, in addition to tracking the abundance of beneficial insects and native pollinators. Soil microbiome biodiversity will also be monitored to track soil quality and carbon sequestration benefits, allowing for a more holistic evaluation of all potential impacts above and below the orchard floor.<\/p>\n