“The Guardians,” a documentary film that interweaves the lives of the threatened monarch butterfly with an indigenous community fighting to restore the forest they nearly destroyed, will be shown at North Dakota State University to celebrate National Pollinator Week, June 17-23.

The screening will be at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 20, in NDSU’s Loftsgard Hall. Tickets are $5, and are available online and at the door, with all proceeds benefitting North Dakota pollinator conservation projects. Registration for the event is encouraged and tickets can be purchased at ndsu.ag/theguardians.

After the screening, April Johnson, NDSU Extension pollinator technician, will be available for discussion and questions.

“We are excited to showcase this documentary that explores the balance between humans and nature,” says Johnson. “The documentary was shot over three years in the butterfly-dense mountaintops of southwest Mexico and shows how the local community is at the front lines of conservation.”

“Though the film focuses on the monarch’s winter home, the butterflies are essential for pollination here in North Dakota during the summer,” shares Johnson. “A thriving monarch population is essential for North Dakota agriculture. We invite the public to NDSU to learn about monarchs through this beautiful film.”

Learn more about the film at https://www.theguardiansfilm.com/.

In addition to the film screening, the NDSU Extension Pollinator Conservation program will host a series of events during National Pollinator Week to raise awareness about the crucial role of pollinators.

Search online for the NDSU Extension Pollinator Conservation Facebook page for a full line-up of family-friendly National Pollinator Week activities.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – June 14, 2024

Source: April Johnson, 701-231-7735, april.johnson.1@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-7881, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu