Project Wingspan Golden State

Project Wingspan Golden State (PWGS) is a multi-year landscape-scale project supported by funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to the non-profit Pollinator Partnership. Pollinator Partnership is working with a coalition of partners and an amazing team of dedicated volunteers to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat in Northern California to support imperiled native pollinators and the vital habitat on which they depend

Project Wingspan Golden State seeks to increase monarch and other pollinator habitat by building off the success of our Project Wingspan efforts in the Midwest and by working with land stewards across a variety of public, private, agricultural, and other land types to help them create, enhance, or restore pollinator habitat. This is achieved by providing support, training, and technical resources to interested participants throughout our focus region and by distributing regionally appropriate seeds and plugs at no cost to select vetted project sites. The goal is to work with volunteers and partners to enhance and establish high-quality habitat that will support monarch butterflies and other

How are we doing this?

Project Wingspan will create and engage a network of volunteers by providing educational training on plant identification and seed collection protocols to ensure volunteers are competent and confident in their abilities to collect common native plant seed according to best management standards. Trained volunteers in collaboration with program staff and partners will make targeted collections of local genotype native wildflower seed. All seed collections will be geospatially tagged, cleaned and inspected, and then be awarded (as seed or grown plug plants) to habitat projects within their area of origin. Long-term habitat will be secured through obtaining written agreements from program participants to manage native habitat areas utilizing BMPs (Best Management Practices) for a minimum of 5 years or more.

Project Wingspan will also provide technical guidance and educational support to land managers and landowners through in-person consultation, online webinars, and other resources to disseminate information on current BMPs including developing native seed mixes, site preparation, implementation, invasive species control, prescribed fire, and long-term management. Information on other programs, projects, and organizations/agencies that may be able to help land stewards meet their long-term habitat goals will also be provided to participants.

Why are we doing this?

Because pollinators need our help. As you may know, the iconic monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and its spectacular migration are in jeopardy. Their North American numbers have suffered a steep decline over the past two decades, with particularly low overwintering numbers in the Western population. In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, including a 4(d) rule with a decision coming in 2025.

However, monarchs aren’t the only species in need of safe places to nest, rest, forage, and reproduce. Together, through the hard work and passion of Pollinator Partnership staff, conservation partners, and enthusiastic landowners, land managers, and volunteers, Project Wingspan aims to create amazing change in the lives of pollinators, other wildlife, and people in Northern California.

If you have a passion for nature and want to help imperiled pollinators, become a trained seed collector and join a fun, dynamic team that is making a difference on the ground. Sign up to learn more:

If you have robust native plant populations on your land and are interested in the possibility to contribute towards local habitat improvement efforts as a seed collection site: Sign-up to get on our list of potential seed collection locations and a State Coordinator will be in touch soon to see if your site is a good fit and answer any questions.

Volunteer Sign Up

If you have robust native plant populations on your land and are interested in the possibility to contribute towards local habitat improvement efforts as a seed collection site, sign-up to get on our list of potential seed collection locations and our staff will be in touch soon to see if your site is a good fit and answer any questions.

Seed Collection Site Sign Up

Monarch Resources

Monarch Conservation Webinars
About Monarchs
Protecting Monarch Brochures
Pollinator Learning Center