The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts and the Oklahoma Monarch Society launched a groundbreaking Wildlife Habitat Grant program in Oklahoma, Canadian, and Cleveland counties. This initiative is part of the Yard by Yard and Okies for Monarchs programs.
Funding for this program was generously provided by the Kirkpatrick Foundation, whose support made this important conservation effort possible.
The demand for native habitat projects is clear: the grant program received 216 applications spanning residential, commercial, public, and farm sites. In the end, 33 projects were funded, resulting in the creation of 761,905 square feet of new habitat and the planting of 3,809 native plants!
Each grantee received $525 per 100 square feet to install between 100 and 1,000 square feet of habitat. Funded projects followed clear ecological guidelines, including:
- No use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides
- One native plant for every two square feet
- At least three blooming wildflowers for each growing season (Spring, summer, and fall)
- A minimum of three native pollinator host plants
- One native woody species per project
Participants also received technical support, design resources, plant selections, and a list of native plant nurseries and landscapers.
In the end, the Wildlife Habitat Grant program has proven that creating habitat is about more than planting seeds — it’s about planting the roots of connection, stewardship, and hope for a healthier, more vibrant future.
About Okies for Monarchs
Okies for Monarchs is an education initiative of the Oklahoma Monarch & Pollinator Collaborative, a statewide group of 60+ organizations and citizens working together to ensure thriving Monarch migrations for generations to come. Learn more by visiting okiesformonarchs.org
About OACD & Yard by Yard
