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Richmond rangers needed for Butterflyway project

The David Suzuki Foundation has launched its 2020 Butterflyway season in Richmond and is recruiting locals to be butterflyway rangers.

The David Suzuki Foundation has launched its 2020 Butterflyway season in Richmond and is recruiting locals to be butterflyway rangers.

It will be the fourth year residents will participate as rangers in the eight-month project to help butterflies and wild bees.

Between Vancouver, Richmond and the District of North Vancouver, more than 150 butterflyway plantings have been created since 2017.

The Butterflyway project’s goal is to empower citizens to take a hands-on approach to help wild pollinators.

Participants connect through neighbourhood planting events and school activities to help alleviate the environmental challenges wild pollinators face.

“Being a part of the (project) as a Butterflyway ranger reinforced my belief that a small group of dedicated, like-minded people can make a big difference in many ways in any community,” said Carol Both, a ranger, who’s also vice-president and program chair of the Sunset Community Garden committee.

According to the Xerces Society, the sharp decline in western monarch butterflies continues to cause concern.

Experts in B.C. and the Lower Mainland monitor the health of migratory butterfly species like west coast lady and painted lady because drought, wildfires, rain storms and flooding in northern and southern California make it challenging for them to complete their life cycles during migration.

According to Lori Snyder – a Vancouver Butterflyway ranger, Indigenous herbalist and medicinal educator - “Education is the key.”

“When I am sharing knowledge with others to take actions, we discover our responsibility as caretakers of Mother Earth.”

Ranger recruitment began Feb. 10. The foundation will invite selected rangers before the end of February to join a one-day training program on Saturday, March 7, at the UBC Botanical Garden.

To apply, click here.