Seeding the Future: Range Resources Habitat Enhancement not a connection many people development and an increase in the number of monarch butter- flies in the region. But for California University of Pennsylvania's Supervisor of the Fish & Wildlife Program, Jose Taracido, the two have become inextricably linked.And he is happy to explain the importance behind the work that Range Resources is doing to repopulate southwestern Pennsylvania with pollinators like the monarch butterfly. "It's a huge thing that Range has come on board to help. Most companies won't do it, but Range has jumped in with both feet And I dont know if they really even understand how much good they're doing, and how much this work matters." Taracido, who also works closely with the nonprofit conservation group Pheasants Forever, is an expert on the migration habits of the monarch butterfly. He says people need to understand why their flight is so important. "More than two-thirds of the world's food sources, crops worth hundreds of billions of dollars, depend might readily make- natural gas ting insecs like the iorcration, which would include sites that are stl "I don't think people reall Range Resources Habitat Enhancemerst Areas are bringing monarch butterflies back to southuwestem PA their population has declined by 90% in North America, South- ration, which would include sites that are still western Pennsylvania is a really important area for breeding and active. population, its our butterflies that are migrating south to Mexico Taracido says he was initially caught off guard understand the public benefit of and pollinating crops. The habitats that Range is helping to bring by the company's willingness to support his back are critical to boosting their numbers. Taracido also makes it clear that the pollinator habitats Range is willing to do something, but I was surprised restoring were gone before Range started drilling. These are not at the extent to which the company has been habitats that Range disturbed or took out.These habitats ha declined because of modern day practices and living. Things like ight just plant a little bit of clover and call agriculture, housing development, herbicides, and even the inven it a day.And that's better than nothing! But tion of the brush hog-people want everything looking like a golf Range's attitude has always been-tell us course.That's the worst thing you can have actualland a lot of what you want, what's the best thing we the pollinator plants we need have been eradicated. Today, these can do to help pollinators in southwestern plants are rare, and very expensive.And Range is helping to bring Pennsylvania, and we'll do it. The planting them back. It's fantastic" Range Environmental Compliance Manager Jeremy Matinko works arch butterfly population. It takes 40 stems closely with Taracido on Habitat Enhancement projects. Matinko of milkweed to get one monarch to Mexico. has an agricultural degree from Penn State, and also serves on the Washington County Farmland Preservation Board. Before joining Range, he worked for both the Pennsylvania Department that work. of Environmental Protection and the Washington County Conser- Recently, Matinko joined representatives from vation District. He explains that the company's increased focus on Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation habitat enhancement germinated among a small group of employ and Natural Resources and the Department ees. "A few years ago, we started talking about what else we could ofAgriculture at a State College gathering do to improve local communities. Many of us grew up here, now focused on conservation efforts across the we're raising families here, and we share a love of the outdoors state. Matinko was there to present infor- hunting, fishing, and conservation." In 2014, a partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation expain how Range's Habitat Enhancement led to Range receiving the Corporation Conservation Award for program has taken shape. Taracido hopes the company's habitat projects in Cross Creek County Park.The ey can continue to spread awareness, as he more recent collaboration with California University of Pennsylva encourages others to follow in Range's foot- Re Resources Habitat Enhancement Area in Washington efforts."I wasn't surprised that Range was that work." willing to do it right. Many other companies that Range is doing is critical for the mon- Range is planting thousands.And I don't think Ranges Jeremy Matinko helips to ouersee the company's Habita people really understand the public benefit of Enhancement projects. mation on Restoration Best Practices, and to rt of Range's ongoing Habitat Enhancement initiati steps. "From homeowners who can manage Coty to include a few milkweed plants in their gar- "Different sites are treated with a different approach," says Matinko."Up until now, our primary efforts have been focused on den, to companies like Range who are helping final reclamation of sites no longer utilized by Range. However, o plant acres of milkweed, we all need to be we hope to expand our efforts to include post-drilling resto- volved in this effort. It matters. Range Resources