Support the California Native Pollinator License Plate

Who We Are

We are advocates for the pollinators - monarchs, bees, birds and other insects - that are essential for human food security and thriving ecosystems. Unfortunately, their populations fallen catastrophically under the combined assault of habitat loss, pesticides, and disease. 
 
Many important food plants and trees do not self or wind-pollinate. Bees, butterflies, other insects, birds, bats, etc. all provide essential ecosystem services of spreading pollen to ensure fertilization, fruiting and seed formation of a large number of plants. Human actions including fragmenting habitat, monocropping, excessive pesticide use, and increasing climate disruptions all threaten pollinator populations around the globe. Humans can reverse the losses and support pollinators by growing pollinator friendly plants, providing nest sites, avoiding pesticides, and spreading the word. 
 

Our goal is to establish a California Native Pollinator License Plate program by replicating the Whale-Tail License Plate program that provides millions in grants annually (Whale-Tail Grants). The recently released Monarch count for the Western Coast by the Xerces Society shows records low for this North America migratory butterfly. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife describes the pollinators of our Californian ecosystems, the threats they face and what we can do about it. Having a license plate program for native pollinators would direct funds for the research, the protection and the restoration of habitat for all native pollinators, enabling more community action and supporting the work of many non-profit organizations involved in the native pollinator protection effort. 

 

The Coalition for a CA Native Pollinator License Plate

Establishing a Specialized License Plate program is a rigorous process that requires a State Agency to sponsor the plate, the approval of the DMV as well as the pre-sale of 7,500 plates. Thus, we need to gather the support and interest of individuals and organizations. We have establish a coalition, the California Pollinator Collaborative starting with a group of Rotarians of the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club, and now including the Carlsbad Community Gardens, the California Native Bee Society and the Xerces Society to formerly move forward.
Our first goal is getting a state agency to sponsor the plate.
 
We also welcome volunteers willing to champion the initiative, contact us.
Visit the California Pollinator Collaborative website for more information and pledge to support our effort.