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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">In New Mexico, we have partnered with nonprofits and local agencies in the city of Santa Fe to launch a Pollinator Trail project that will create connected, climate-smart pollinator habitat across the urban area. We’ve mapped core habitat patches and corridors through this urban area, and will establish new pollinator habitat where they will improve connectivity. We’ll prioritize habitat establishment in historically underserved communities of Santa Fe to provide more chances for residents to interact with nature.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">As part of this Pollinator Trail project, we are making “habitat kits” available to residents and local organizations who commit to providing the time, labor, and space to establish these plants in yards and gardens. Each kit includes pesticide-free native plants grown by a local nursery.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Read more on our blog, <b>New in Santa Fe: Pollinator Trail and Habitat Kit Program</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://xerces.org/blog/new-in-santa-fe-pollinator-trail-and-habitat-kit-program">https://xerces.org/blog/new-in-santa-fe-pollinator-trail-and-habitat-kit-program</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">We can provide the elements of pollinator habitat in our own yards and in public open spaces by planting a diversity of native flowering plants, providing undisturbed nesting and overwintering areas, and protecting these areas from pesticide use. There are many considerations when designing habitat for pollinators, in particular when choosing plant species to include in backyard or open space pollinator plantings. In the Southwest, where temperatures are rising and droughts are becoming more severe, prioritizing native, climate-smart plants for landscaping ensures that habitat will rely on less water and will be more likely to withstand the changing climate. This pollinator habitat is not only an investment in wildlife. It is an investment in conserving water, creating beautiful, livable cities, and providing outdoor learning and recreation spaces.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Recognizing the value of pollinator habitats in urban areas for people and pollinators, the Xerces Society is launching the Santa Fe Pollinator Trail to build connected, climate-smart pollinator habitat in an urban community. We’ve used GIS data to map highly developed land cover within Santa Fe and identify core habitat patches and corridors throughout this urban area. This will inform our efforts to strategically place pollinator habitat plantings to improve connectivity, as well as prioritize habitat establishment in historically underserved communities of Santa Fe. This is as a pilot program, and we hope to expand to other cities in future years.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">As part of the launch of this Pollinator Trail program, we are expanding our Habitat Kit program to offer kits of climate-smart, pesticide-free native plants to residents and local organizations who commit to providing the time, labor, and space to establish these plants in yards and gardens. The plant kits each contain thirty-two perennials and one tree or shrub, and are intended for use by residents of Santa Fe in their home gardens and as well as for use by partner organizations in public spaces to feature as demonstration or education gardens. The plants are all locally native species that in combination will provide bloom from spring to fall. They are grown by the Santa Ana Native Plant Nursery. This nursery does not use pesticides and most of its plants are started from locally collected seed, so the plants are well suited to local conditions. Three hundred fifty kits will be distributed to selected program participants in Santa Fe this September—that’s 11,550 pollinator plants heading to residential and public gardens throughout the city!</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Of course, this program would not be possible without an enthusiastic, proactive community to help support it. Many local organizations, agencies, institutions, and individuals are eager to partner with Xerces to develop guidance and educational materials for habitat kit program participants, incorporate pollinator habitat into their conservation projects, host events and share outreach opportunities, assist with distribution of habitat kits, and the list goes on! Many of our partners for the Pollinator Trail are involved in a variety of urban conservation efforts: Save Water Santa Fe is the City’s Water Conservation Office; the Randall Davey Audubon Center’s specialty is environmental education; Santa Fe Master Gardeners encourage and promote native plant gardening; and there are others—all of which are closely connected to pollinator conservation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">----------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Matthew Shepherd</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Director of Communications & Outreach</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">he/him/his</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><img border="0" width="128" height="48" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D72DD0.460BB9A0" alt="Email-Outlook_Xerces-logo-CMYK"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Protecting the Life That Sustains Us</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">Connect @xercessociety on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/xercessociety/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Facebook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/xercessociety" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/xercessociety/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Instagram</span></a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">Visit <a href="https://xerces.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">xerces.org</span></a> to read our <a href="https://xerces.org/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">blog</span></a>, sign up for our <a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001HTk7N6nZumLPinBr8VACbNdTXCe732bGu6KpqC13JAKPti_HBe5xyr7t0p4mDfKe2dOsd-TB1qvv772s6GQfVa_SbKKfwBiwl4blH4KvCjq4dpmA2M9UNZ2axlQwu_1Gvjrl2Rb53WUZwsddwCzyorgxedLAaMy3" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">e-newsletter</span></a>, and learn what you can do.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">Watch on <span style="color:#1f497d"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiPLPJuySOgn6CbjkOxqLQ"><span style="color:blue">YouTube</span></a>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">Support our work: <a href="https://xerces.org/donate/"><span style="color:blue">Donate</span></a>!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">628 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97232, USA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">Cell: (503) 807-1577</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">Office: (503) 232-6639 x110</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><a href="mailto:matthew.shepherd@xerces.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">matthew.shepherd@xerces.org</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></body></html>