A reader recently asked via email where in the process were Minnesota's pollinator critical habitat license plates:
. . . I was curious where pollinator plate is at in the process of being approved, or which one was selected by the public. I am reaching out because your email was the only one attached to the website I had seen.
We're assuming he read a post like this February 2017 item: Vote for new pollinator critical habitat license plate; online poll closes Tues. Feb. 7 at 5 p.m.
After we explained that we had only reported about the contest, but were not public employees in Minnesota, we told the inquiring mind we'd ask the DNR what was up. Here's the DNR's announcement of the contest in November 2016, DNR announces art contest for state’s first pollinator critical habitat license plate:
Minnesota will release a new critical habitat license plate early next year with a design that will feature pollinators in native habitat, according to the Department of Natural Resources. 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 will be available online next week on the critical habitat specialty plates page. . . .
The reader's question is a good one. In response to our call to the agency's media department, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame wildlife Program Promotions and Permits Officer Lori Naumann wrote in an email:
The Pollinator license plate has been on hold for almost two years, unfortunately because of the MLARS debacle at Minnesota Department of Public Safety. I highly encourage you to reach out to them for further updates. We too, are anxiously awaiting approval and release of this gorgeous plate!
We will be contacting the DPS to learn when the plate will be released to join existing critical habitat plates. Readers could flit or swarm (depending on their pollinator metaphors of choice) and ask "Questions or concerns regarding motor vehicles or driver's licenses should be submitted using the DVS Online Form button. . ." Ignore the links for other questions and ask about the launch date in the form that follows. Be polite--honey rather that vinegar is more productive.
While the misery Minnesota's drivers experienced--along with the financial hardships that deputy registrars (private small businesses) went through quite rightly earned the headlines during the MNLARS debacle, it's a sad footnote that IT folly delayed funding for this critical habitat.
As DNR announces art contest for state’s first pollinator critical habitat license plate also notes:
. . .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. . . .
View the available plates for other critical habitat (even wild turkeys have one) and learn about the program here.
Image: the three final designs, from the online survey (now gone). Unfortunately, the DNR hasn't announced the winner (had official “unveiling”) Naumann can’t reveal which design won.
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