Established in 2019, Western Monarch Pollinator Pathways (WMPP) was launched in an effort to help protect western monarchs from further decline by encouraging the establishment of sanctuary habitats. With participation from land owners, elementary schools and the general public we plan to ‘link it up’ and provide a path of connectivity for migrating monarch populations before it’s too late.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple…plant milkweed. In the Western US where monarch numbers have plummeted, we want to provide as many native milkweed plants as possible, encouraging the establishment of sanctuary habitats in non-pesticide use areas. By targeting elementary schools, we hope to not only provide learning opportunities for children, but bring communities together and inspire a passion for local stewardship in future generations.

“No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”

— David Attenborough

Achievements to date

Monarch Waystation dedications in Utah
Establishment of monarch gardens on elementary school grounds in Northern Utah
Educational talks given on lifecycle processes and tagging demonstrations of western monarchs
Distribution of ‘Planting Guidelines’ ‘Cold Stratification’ and ‘Plant Selection’ protocols for successful garden establishment.
Launch of social media initiative and seed distribution, October’s #MilkweedChallenge
Native milkweed and nectar plant establishment in California.

Planting of monarch habitats on landowner properties along western monarch migration routes (Utah)
Awareness campaigns to highlight the status of western monarchs
Seed collections, establishment, and testing of stratification/germination protocols for multiple regionally specific milkweed varieties
OE Testing in monarch population in Cache Valley, UT
Collaborations with Utah Pollinator Pursuit, Audubon, local schools, organizations, and conservation groups