Monarch Milkweed Project urges urgent action as local counts fall short; festival planned for June 1

Anita Puccio of the Monarch Milkweed Project described a multi‑pronged effort to restore monarch habitat in Benicia and the broader Bay Area, including a festival, community planting and Monarch Waystations at public sites.

Puccio said the group aims to expand the June 1 Bay Area Monarch festival at Mare Island Promenade and noted last year’s attendance and vendor counts. She told the commission the group sold pollinator starter kits and intends to expand kid‑focused educational programming. “This year, we are pushing for 6,000,” she said about the festival attendance goal, and encouraged commission support for promotion and volunteer recruitment.

Puccio emphasized the conservation urgency: volunteers who survey coastal overwintering sites counted only 9,119 monarchs from October 2024 through January 2025; she said scientists regard fewer than 30,000 monarchs as unsustainable. “This is our last shot at saving the Monarch butterfly,” Puccio said, and asked the commission to support planting milkweed and nectar plants in public and private spaces, to host waystations and to help advertise the festival.

Commissioners asked about coordination with local partners, specific planting projects (Benicia Historical Museum, public library and Mare Island projects were cited), school engagement and timing for planting. Puccio said the group will have milkweed available for sharing in the coming weeks and described plans for nursery‑grown, out‑of‑season plants to provide earlier food sources for migrating monarchs.

The commission agreed to discuss tabling at the festival and to coordinate newsletter/promotional support. No formal city funding commitment was made during the presentation.