ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s newest, critical habitat license plate featuring native pollinators including a bee and butterflies, became available statewide Jan. 14.

The new license plate is available online and at deputy registrar and driver’s license officers statewide.

The new plates can be purchased before current plate tabs expire since the license fee is prorated when a critical habitat license plate is purchased.

The $30 annual contribution to the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Critical Habitat Program helps preserve important wildlife habitat and plant communities like wetlands, prairies, old growth forests and endangered orchid sites.

Contributions greater than $30 go toward buying and managing important natural habitats that are preserved as public lands. The lands are open to compatible public use including hunting, hiking and wildlife watching.

Besides buying the new license plate, Minnesotans can help pollinators by

• Growing milkweed, the monarch butterfly host plant, and other native flowers to provide nectar resources.

• Provide open ground and unmown roadsides as appropriate.

• Reduced pesticide use.