Antioch High School Students Help Restore Butterfly Habitat

The National Audubon Society and Toyota recently recognized Wild Equity’s Staff Attorney Laura Horton as a conservation leader with the prestigious Toyota TogetherGreen fellowship. Laura is using the grant from Toyota TogetherGreen fellowship to involve students from Antioch High School in the restoration efforts at the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in Antioch, CA.

In January and February, 60 students and Laura collaborated with employees from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove invasive plants and plant 500 native plants, including the endangered Antioch Dunes Evening Primrose and the naked-stemmed buckwheat. Naked-stemmed buckwheat is the host plant for the endangered Lange’s Metalmark Butterfly. Laura’s project with the Antioch High School students will continue through the summer, culminating in a community-wide event with parents, teachers, and students celebrating the students’ achievements through their restoration efforts.