Fifteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Texas Woman’s University (TWU) Pollinator Gardens observed a ninety percent decline in the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) population over that past two decades. America’s favorite Lepidoptera species is in genuine trouble. TWU, in Denton, Texas is on the butterfly migration flyway and the loss of natural habitat is obvious in our growing area. Knowing that, TWU has developed two gardens that act as way-stations for monarchs and other pollinators. Major goals of the project include educating our students and local citizenry about sustainability issues, offering research sites for faculty and students, and helping our community become active in finding solutions to current environmental concerns. A faculty committee of members from biology, botany, computer science, legal studies, history, and a College of Arts and Sciences administrator are overseeing the project. We have received grants from several groups. Our gardens offer two areas of appropriate habitat on the campus. The use of native plants and water collection systems have helped make these landscapes low-maintenance as well as attractive. An education center is being planned and a weather station proposed. Various Greek organizations, honor groups, and academic classes have volunteered to help with the planting and weeding the gardens. Over the past year, faculty members and student volunteers have aided several local organizations to develop of their own small gardens, participated in campus Earth Day events, offered activities for school children on Science Day, created a Facebook site, and planned a service project for incoming freshmen.