3 minute read
What’s the BIG DEAL about
PC: Painted Lady Butterfly at Henry White Native Garden by Kerry Brethauer
We hear it all the time at HeartLands Conservancy, “You all only care about bunnies and butterflies!”
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The implication here is that bunnies and butterflies are fragile, and so we as an organization are weak and fragile, too. Frequently the speaker means these creatures are not significant compared to building a gas station or tearing down a forest for apartments.
So, let’s clear the air. Yes, at HeartLands Conservancy, we proudly declare that we care deeply about bunnies and butterflies. We care about all parts of the ecosystem, from the bacteria in the soil to birds in the sky. We don’t believe that nature should be considered separate from communities.
We believe that no matter where you live or your circumstance in southwestern Illinois, you should have access to clean air, places for nature to thrive, and high-quality outdoor experiences. We aren’t shy about it. We stand firmly by it.
But we aren’t naive or living in fantasyland. We are supportive of development in southwestern Illinois. People need homes, jobs, education, income, places to have fun. People need food stores, banks, and (gasp) gas stations.
Conservation only works if both development and a healthy environment are equitably available to the people of southwestern Illinois. Our mission is all about nurturing community and preserving what people love about living here as the region grows. A story from our work supporting a community garden through our Lots of Love program this year illustrates this perfectly:
Five-year-old Remi Gutierrez is a frequent visitor to the garden, especially during shut-downs due to the pandemic. Remi’s favorite things to do while visiting the garden were picking food to take to his grandmother, tasting the foods he chose, and observing the caterpillars that munched on milkweed plants. Remi and the site steward even had an ongoing activity where Remi would ask her how many caterpillars she had found on a given morning, and Remi would try to match her count.
On one occasion, after observing the bees buzzing around the many flowers in the garden, Remi turned to his mother and said,
Butterflies have been around for at least 50 million years. And yes, they are fragile. But that fragility makes them quick to react to change. If butterflies are struggling to survive or are absent from a place, it is a severe warning about our environment.
When an area is filled with our butterfly neighbors, it means that area is likely rich in other wildlife. Collectively these creatures provide a range of benefits, including pollination, pest control, and food sources.
And they are quite beautiful, too.
But, butterflies, like the iconic Monarch butterfly, are declining significantly. From 1994 to 2014, the number of monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains declined by 1 BILLION. The decline is a troubling indicator of overall environmental health. But communities - and you - can make a big difference.
HeartLands Conservancy has long been supporting conservation efforts within southwestern Illinois communities. Some of our efforts include the Lots of Love program (vacant lots to habitat or gardens), Conservation@Home, habitat restorations, outdoor classrooms, and our partnerships with regional parks departments and communities to conserve and restore habitat for butterflies and all the other wildlife that need it to survive.
Our region CAN work together to support both conservation and economic vitality for our human neighbors and our butterfly neighbors. If you want to be a part of this movement, please consider joining us with a $100 gift this holiday season, with your time as a volunteer or participant in programs, or as a general supporter of this vital work.
So, here’s to bunnies and butterflies… and resilient development for communities that supports these creatures, too.
