The Butterfly Highway is a statewide conservation initiative that aims to restore native pollinator habitats to areas impacted by urbanization, land use change and agriculture. From backyard pollinator “pit stops” to large-scale roadside habitat restoration, the project goal is to create a network of native flowering plants to support butterflies, bees, birds and other pollen and nectar dependent wildlife. These green spaces and pollinator gardens will connect and thread throughout North Carolina to create The Butterfly Highway.
To accomplish this, North Carolina Wildlife Federation is:
- Partnering with state and local transportation agencies to include native grasses, pollinator nectar and host plants in all roadside plantings.
- Engaging private landowners and public lands in large-scale native meadow and river restoration projects.
- Working with the community to add pollinator pit stops (areas that include native pollinator nectar and host plants) to residential yards, libraries, community centers and local businesses.
The Butterfly Highway project began with several Charlotte communities that wanted to beautify their environment through planting gardens. Through the project, these communities transformed community gardens, backyard gardens, public spaces and park fragments into new pollinator and wildlife habitats.
Learn more about The Butterfly Highway
Criteria for Butterfly Highway garden designation
Register your Butterfly Highway garden
