The Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) program and H-E-B have announced a collaboration to support the Pollinators for Texas initiative.

According to an October 28 press release from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), H-E-B is contributing $50,000 to the TMN program to fund this initiative. TMN chapters across the state will have the opportunity to apply for project awards of up to $3,000 each. These funds are intended for large-scale community-based projects aimed at enhancing native pollinator populations and their habitats.

The release highlights the importance of pollinators such as moths, bees, butterflies, birds, and bats in sustaining ecosystems. Globally, pollinators are responsible for about 85% of flowering plant pollination and contribute an estimated $9 billion annually to American crop and agricultural production. In Texas, local plant species depend on native pollinators for successful fertilization.

Michelle Haggerty, TMN Program State Coordinator, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of this program. "Our Texas Master Naturalist volunteers and chapters are already implementing and providing technical guidance daily on native garden and pollinator ‘wildscape’ projects," Haggerty said. She added that this initiative would enable projects with a larger impact on a habitat and landscape scale.

The application window for these project awards is open to all TMN chapters until November 30.