Colorado took a pivotal step toward protecting its pollinators when Governor Jared Polis signed an executive order on September 16th to boost safeguards for native pollinators across the state. Facing threats from habitat loss, drought, invasive species, and pesticide exposure, species like wild bees and butterflies are getting a dedicated statewide conservation push. The directive mandates the creation of a comprehensive statewide pollinator strategy, prioritizes the use of pollinator-friendly land practices on state property, expands habitat along highway corridors, and supports local landowners in planting native vegetation. This policy reinforces that Colorado’s agricultural economy and natural landscapes depend heavily on these tiny, essential creatures.
This executive action directly aligns with and elevates the mission and daily work of Butterfly Pavilion. As the world’s first Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited non-profit invertebrate zoo, Butterfly Pavilion exists to foster appreciation of invertebrates and ensure their conservation worldwide. Butterfly Pavilion’s team actively conducts field studies, habitat restoration projects, and community-based monitoring programs throughout Colorado. By establishing statewide mandates for native planting and habitat preservation, the new executive order provides a crucial legislative tailwind to Butterfly Pavilion’s work. The work we do every day and expands the native habitats necessary for species recovery, as well as amplifies our efforts to educate the public on why invertebrate conservation is indispensable to human survival.
“I love seeing more headlines around invertebrates and more actions that inspire communities to protect them,” said Francisco Garcia Bulle Bueno, Director of Research and Conservation at Butterfly Pavilion. “It’s exciting to see these small but critical animals receive the recognition they deserve. I am looking forward to what we can achieve in the future, celebrating pollinators and the ecosystems they support.”
The executive order represents an important milestone for pollinator conservation in Colorado and demonstrates a growing recognition of the vital role invertebrates play in maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting agriculture, and sustaining biodiversity for future generations.
View the executive order here.
