Students Rescue Crucial Butterfly Habitat

In Oakland, a dedicated group of young people is working to preserve a significant population of California pipevines that were unearthed during construction at UC Berkeley. These mature vines are critical for the survival of the California pipevine swallowtail butterfly, which relies on them for egg-laying and as a food source for its caterpillars.

The university is undertaking a major project to replace its aging, fossil-fuel-burning clean energy infrastructure with a more sustainable system. As part of this initiative, some pipevine habitats were impacted. UC Berkeley has stated its intention to transplant the vines later and restore or expand the existing habitat.

However, a call for action led to volunteers from the Pipevine Posse in Oakland taking possession of a large pile of the unearthed vines. They have established a temporary nursery in a backyard, using planters and soil to keep the vines moist and shaded. Students are submerging the plants in soil to prevent them from drying out.

This rescue effort is crucial, as the exposed plants were at risk of dying within days. The volunteers plan to keep the vines in temporary housing until early fall, before the first rains, when they will begin a water regime. Once new shoots sprout, the team will propagate them, aiming to create numerous new plants.

The salvaged pipevines are expected to be ready for replanting in the dormant season, with some being made available for free in October. The initiative underscores the broader importance of biodiversity in combating climate change, emphasizing that the loss of species is permanent.