California’s native pollinators—including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, and bats—play a vital role in sustaining wild ecosystems and food production. The organizations and programs below provide guidance, data, and funding for pollinator habitat restoration, pesticide reduction, and community education.

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
https://xerces.org
A leading authority on pollinator conservation and habitat restoration. Provides science-based planting guides, bee-friendly farming certifications, and policy advocacy.

California Native Plant Society (CNPS)
https://www.cnps.org
Promotes the use of California native plants through research, education, and community outreach. Publishes region-specific pollinator planting guides and nursery directories.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) – Pollinator Conservation Program
https://wildlife.ca.gov
Supports conservation planning for pollinators and habitat restoration on public and private lands.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – Pollinator Initiative
(web page currently not available  www dot nrcs dot usda dot gov/pollinators)
Offers technical and financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and landowners to establish pollinator habitat through EQIP and other cost-share programs.

California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD)
https://carcd.org
Coordinates over 90 RCDs across California, many of which lead local pollinator and native planting projects.

Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants (Sun Valley, CA)
 https://theodorepayne.org
 A cornerstone of native-plant education and supply in Southern California. Offers native plant sales, classes, and habitat restoration projects.

Las Pilitas Nursery (Santa Margarita & Escondido, CA)
 https://www.laspilitas.com
 One of California’s oldest native plant nurseries; extensive online plant database with pollinator details.

Pollinator Posse (Bay Area)
 https://pollinatorposse.org
 Grassroots network providing habitat gardening workshops and citizen science events for pollinator awareness.

Ventura County Resource Conservation District (VCRCD)
 https://www.vcrcd.org
 Local initiatives promoting pollinator habitat restoration, especially following wildfires.

Los Angeles County Parks – Nature Gardens & Greenway Projects
 https://parks.lacounty.gov
 Supports native landscaping in urban settings and along greenways like the LA River and San Gabriel River.

Pacific Coast Seed - South (Carpinteria, CA)
 https://nativeseedgroup.com/who-we-are/pacific-coast-seed
 Supplies California native and pollinator-friendly seeds for restoration and landscaping projects.

Hedgerow Farms (Winters, CA)
 https://hedgerowfarms.com
 Specializes in local ecotype seed for restoration and revegetation.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (California Botanic Garden)
 https://calbg.org
 Offers native plant sales, habitat workshops, and pollinator exhibits.

Theodore Payne Foundation Store
 (see above under Regional Initiatives)

UC California Naturalist Program
 https://calnat.ucanr.edu
 Offers certification courses that train stewards in ecology, pollinator biology, and restoration principles.

• How to Become a Certified Naturalist in California

UC Master Gardener Program of California
 https://mg.ucanr.edu
 Trains volunteers in sustainable gardening and pollinator-friendly landscaping practices.

Monarch Joint Venture – Monarch Conservation Webinar Series
 https://monarchjointventure.org
 National resource for monarch habitat conservation, often partnering with California agencies.

Audubon California
 https://ca.audubon.org
 Provides bird-friendly and pollinator-friendly native plant lists and community garden guides.

UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab
 http://www.helpabee.org
 Documents wild bee diversity across California and provides identification tools and planting lists.

California Pollinator Coalition
 https://www.pollinator.org/california-pollinator-coalition
 Partnership among agriculture, government, and conservation groups promoting pollinator protection on working lands.

USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab
 https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eesc/science/native-bee-inventory-and-monitoring-lab
 Provides open data and identification guides.

iNaturalist – Pollinator Projects (https://www.inaturalist.org)
 Upload and share pollinator sightings with scientists and the public.

Monarch Watch Tagging Program (https://monarchwatch.org)
 Tracks monarch butterfly migration across North America.

Chronolog Pollinator Photo Stations (https://www.chronolog.io)
 Crowd-source photo time-lapse data to track habitat growth and restoration progress.

Wildlife Conservation Board – Pollinator Habitat Program

 https://wcb.ca.gov Offers grants to enhance pollinator habitat on working and natural lands.

 

NRCS EQIP & CSP Programs (website offline)

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) 

• California NRCS Pollinator Resources Page: Financial incentives for farmers, ranchers, and private landowners who establish or enhance native flowering plants, hedgerows, and other pollinator-friendly practices.
   

CAL FIRE Forest Health & Urban Forestry Grants

• Forest Health Grants (website offline)

• Urban and Community Forestry Program: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/urban-and-community-forestry-grants Provides funding for reforestation, green infrastructure, and urban tree planting projects that can incorporate pollinator-friendly vegetation.
   

Local RCDs and CNPS Chapters

• California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD): https://carcd.org Find your local RCD using the CARCD directory — many districts offer native seed giveaways, mini-grants, or technical support for habitat projects.

• California Native Plant Society (CNPS) – Local Chapters: https://www.cnps.org/chapter Individual CNPS chapters often provide small community grants, volunteer planting events, and seed exchanges that support pollinator restoration.