Fundraising

"GREEN LIVES MATTER"

Human habitat expansion and resource extraction are the main contributors to the reduction of species habitat? Does a species have the right to exist and thrive regardless of human needs?

Ecocentrism is an ethical conservation approach, acknowledging the right to the earth's existence. We believe that species existence is a sacred right regardless of human necessity and consumption.

In southern Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, where temperate, desert. coastal and sub-tropical converge with a rich diversity of wildlife there are approximately 1200 species. Of these species some occur only in the lower portion of the Rio Grande Valley. However, due to the expansion of urban development, ranching, oil exploration wind farms and other destructive activities by humans, many of the unique species have become endangered and threatened through the lose of habitat. Among these are: Astrophytum asterias, Aplomado Falcon, Ocolotl, and Lophophora williamsi and many species of butterflies. (e.g. Scientific Investigation Report by U.S.G.S. 2016).

We ask you to join the "Green Lives Matter" campaign, to create awareness of this forgotten and neglected precious and unique ecology.

Seedling Sanctuary Project

Supply chain challenges of the current peyote harvest/distribution system have resulted in decreased availability and increased cost to Native American Church (NAC) members who rely on increasingly scarce wild peyote populations.

Though formerly sufficient to meet the needs of the NAC in the US and Canada, the frailty and unsustainable nature of this “culled from the wild” supply method, now threatens the future of NAC ceremonial practices, and of the severely limited domestic reserves of the peyote species itself. Continued dependance on commercial harvesting of wild peyote populations for current NAC needs provides no foreseeable means of insuring future sacramental supply.

Morning Star Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and protect peyote in its natural habitat. Establishing conservatory gardens is an important part of this mission. In support of this purpose, Morningstar Conservancy has received an initial operating grant for a peyote seedling sanctuary pilot project. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of producing seedling stock for transplant into dedicated conservatory gardens, and for potential repatriation into depleted habitats. This proof of concept seedling project will be active in January 2023. However, additional funding is required to continue the project beyond the first year startup period. Budget projections for this first initial period fall short, by approximately $50K, of costs which include a one time facility upgrade, (construction of greenhouse, required in second year operation), and resident caretaker salary.

Given that 3 years of specialized nursery care is required for successful transplant readiness into a natural culture environment, Morning Star Conservancy is seeking supplemental funding for years 1 through 3 of the seedling sanctuary project. It is anticipated that at the completion of this 3 year operating cycle, several appropriately designated conservatory gardens will be operational and ready to receive transplant stock into their custodianship. Several Native American Church (NAC) affiliated groups are currently engaged in planning conservatory gardens to be managed under their own organizational auspices. Morning Star Conservancy’s seedling sanctuary project is a necessary first step toward relieving these NAC affiliated organizations of the sensitive horticultural requirements of the life cycle of peyote seedlings. Due to the extended nature of peyote’s growth cycle, we are hopeful that this important process can proceed without delay.

Functioning as a culturally appropriate nursery providing sustainably grown planting stock for dedicated gardens, Morning Star Conservancy’s seedling project is an important first step in addressing and remediating the impact of ecological and economic factors that challenge the current NAC sacramental supply system. For more information, please see www.morningstarconservancy.org. Contact us at info@morningstarconservancy.org

Morning Star Conservancy is a 501c3 organization, EIN 88-2807422 Your contributions are eligible for non-profit, tax deductible purposes.