St. Paul—Minnesota will release a new critical habitat license plate early next year with a design that will feature pollinators in their native habitat, according to the DNR. The new design will be selected from a public contest among Minnesota artists and their original artwork.
Wildlife artists can submit entries for the critical habitat pollinator plate from Monday, Dec. 5 through 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Contest rules, application and artist agreement forms are available online at mndnr.gov/plates.
“Pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, have been of concern in recent years due to many of the challenges that affect our native insects,” said Crystal Boyd, DNR bee specialist. “These challenges include pesticide use, habitat loss, pathogens, parasites, climate change, invasive species, and other factors. A pollinator license plate is a great way for Minnesota motorists to express their concern and appreciation for our native insects.”
The Minnesota Legislature created the critical habitat license plate program in 1995 to provide additional opportunity for Minnesotans to contribute toward conservation. Motorists who purchase a critical habitat plate pay a $10 initial fee, plus a minimum annual contribution of $30 to the Reinvest in Minnesota program. Every dollar generated through the sale of the license plate is matched with private donations of cash or land. The annual $30 contribution is not tax deductible.
Critical habitat license plate revenue has generated more than $59 million to acquire or improve 22,000 acres of critical habitat and helped fund nongame wildlife research and surveys, habitat enhancement and educational programs. Information about the program and details about how to order existing plates is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/plates.
