A new partnership with a Boulder firm with life science connections across the globe will allow Westminster’s Butterfly Pavilion to do what it does best – preserve habitats for butterflies, bees, and other critical pollinators, one of the Pavilion’s top scientists said this week.
The new venture is with BioMed Realty, a Blackstone portfolio company that owns and operates high-quality life science real estate comprising 16.8 million square feet, according to a news release. The partnership calls for the Butterfly Pavilion to develop and enhance pollinator habitat in BioMed Realty’s Flatiron Park in Boulder.
BioMed includes properties throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.
BioMed’s partnership with the Butterfly Pavilion involves a multi-year project that officially began with a baseline fall assessment. Pollinator-friendly habitats will be designed this year and built in four buildings in Flatiron Park, with other buildings planned for 2025 and 2026, the news release states.
The work at the BioMed campus mirrors what the Pavilion’s Environmental and Ecological Services group has been doing for years to develop good, healthy habitats for critical pollinators, said Jamie Schmidt, director of ecological and environmental services for the Butterfly Pavilion.
“We are working with companies, developers, landowners, and oil and gas companies to survey and recommend landscaping to help increase native pollinators in that area,” said Schmidt. “We work with companies big and small across the United States to create healthier habitats. We are everywhere across the pollinator highway.”
Pioneering work
The partnership with BioMed Realty shows the company is serious about creating a safe space for pollinators, she said.
“We see their vision and they want to be pioneers,” Schmidt said.
“This initiative will promote the cultivation of native plants that cater to the specific needs of local butterfly species, bees, and other invertebrates, thereby enhancing biodiversity and build a greater appreciation for these critical species and their habitats,” said Hannah Brown, Environmental and Ecological Services Manager in the news release.
BioMed officials said it made sense to reach out to the Butterfly Pavilion because of its stature in the conservation community. The Pavilion, which attracted 310,000 visitors in 2023, is the first Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited, stand-alone, non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world.
Mike Ruhl, Vice President of BioMed Realty said in the news release, “We are leveraging Butterfly Pavilion’s scientific expertise to ensure the protection and conservation of pollinators while supporting greater biodiversity.”
Pollinators, such as honeybees, native bees and butterflies, play a critical role in ecosystem function and are vital to the human production of food and reproduction of native plants, the news release states.
Yet global pollinators are increasingly in peril, mainly from habitat destruction, chemical pollution, parasites, and pathogens which have significantly decreased their numbers. Flower-rich pollinator landscapes support greater biodiversity and climate resilience, supporting pollinators and other beneficial animals. By providing a habitat conducive to local pollinators, Flatiron Park contributes to the overall enhancement of biodiversity in the region, the news release states.
Heightened awareness
Flatiron Park’s outdoor areas offer a unique and interactive experience for tenants, fostering a sense of connection with nature. As occupants interact with the pollinator habitats and participate in optional onsite educational classes presented by Butterfly Pavilion, they gain a deeper understanding of the significance of local biodiversity conservation, the news release states.
This heightened awareness often typically leads to a growing interest in sustainable practices and a strong inclination to engage in community initiatives aimed at environmental preservation, the news release states.
Most residents see only the workings of the inside of the Pavilion while research and conservation work are being conducted all over the world by the facility’s scientists, Schmidt said.
“We bring in so many children through the years and they love looking at the flowers and even touching Rosie (the tarantula mascot),” Schmidt said. “We are just working to preserve a world for their children and grandchildren.”