A recently published financial analysis examines the financial implications for landowners and managers considering converting lawns to pollinator habitats in rural landscapes.
The study published this month in the online peer-reviewed publication, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, examines financial factors over a 10-year management horizon in three unique scenarios with a range of expenses: self-maintenance of lawns, contracted maintenance of lawns, and establishment and management of pollinator habitat. Their analyses indicate conversion to pollinator habitat was appreciably less expensive ($54-$167/acre/year) than continued self-care ($637-$1,007/acre/year) or contracted care ($326-$1034/acre/year) of lawns over ten years.
These results establish the financial benefits for landowners or managers considering an alternative management plan for their existing lawns. These economic benefits complement existing literature demonstrating multiple ecological benefits of diverse native perennial vegetation.
Conversion of lawns to pollinator habitats are vital to reversing the declines in high-profile species like monarch butterflies and native bees and assuring their survival.
The link to the full paper is here