The Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Rescue Program (Program) was created by Assembly Bill 2421, and signed into law in 2018 becoming effective immediately. The Program was created for the purpose of recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators. To achieve these purposes, the bill authorizes the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) to provide grants and technical assistance, as prescribed. The bill requires WCB to develop and adopt project selection and evaluation guidelines, in coordination with the Department of Food and Agriculture, before disbursing these grants. The bill establishes the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Rescue Fund Account in the State Treasury, and authorizes expenditure of moneys in the account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of the Program.
The Enabling Statute created the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Rescue Fund Account (Fund) in the State Treasury. Monies in the Fund became available, upon appropriation, for the purposes of the Program including:
- Provide grants for the restoration or enhancement of California prairie and other appropriate breeding habitat for monarch butterflies and pollinators on private and public lands.
- Provide grants for the restoration or enhancement of overwintering monarch butterfly habitat on private and public lands.
- Provide technical assistance to grant recipients, including farmers and ranchers, regarding restoration and enhancement of breeding, overwintering, and other appropriate monarch butterfly habitat.
- Provide grants for seasonal or temporary habitat improvements.
- Provide block grants in which suballocations are made by the grant recipient, with the approval of the Wildlife Conservation Board.