Grant supports local pollinators

The Texas Master Naturalist Hill Country Chapter has been awarded a $2,000 grant from the Pollinators for Texas project to enhance the Kerr County Courthouse Pollinator Garden.

This initiative, a collaboration between H-E-B and the Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) Program, aims to promote native pollinator conservation through community engagement, habitat restoration, and education.

Established in 1997 as a partnership between Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Master Naturalist Program trains and supports volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of Texas’ natural resources and ecosystems.

The Kerr County Courthouse Pollinator Garden was originally established to highlight the importance of Texas native plants in supporting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, birds, and other insects.

With the new funding, the Hill Country Chapter plans to expand the garden and increase community outreach efforts.

“Texas Master Naturalists have a long history of supporting the preservation of our native habitat,” said Pamela Lienhard, a member of the Hill Country Master Naturalists. “It’s important to recognize the role that our native pollinators play in that preservation. We’re very excited to receive this grant in order for us to expand the garden and our outreach to the community.”

Pollination is a key ecological process necessary for sustaining native plant communities and supporting American agriculture.

However, many pollinator species are facing dramatic population declines, making conservation efforts more critical than ever.

The Pollinators for Texas project supports TMN chapters across the state in their efforts to restore and maintain pollinator-friendly environments.

To learn more about the project, visit txmn.tamu. edu/pollinators-for-texas.