National Wildlife Federation

12/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/10/2024 13:07

Threatened Listing for Migratory Monarch Butterfly Offers Path for Species’ Recovery

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposal to list the migratory monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act will provide a clear path to recover the one-of-a-kind species and save its multi-generation migration through increased resources, coordination, and research. The threatened listing also allows the agency to create tailored regulations for recovery that draw upon the expertise and experience of stakeholders including scientists, other federal agencies, state wildlife agencies, Tribal governments, conservation organizations, private landowners, and the public.

"This determination will give new life to our conservation efforts and affirms what the science community has documented for almost three decades, a steady and concerning decline of the species' populations," said Dr. Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón, monarch recovery strategist and director of climate-resilient habitats for the National Wildlife Federation. "With uniquely tailored guidelines for this equally unique species, we can begin to reverse the declining trajectory of the Western and Eastern migratory monarch populations for generations to come. We wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity to join forces with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our dedicated partners to cultivate innovative and targeted strategies to meet this species' needs."

"Imperiled monarch populations desperately need our help, and we can help save them by expanding collaborative efforts to restore habitat and reduce threats throughout their flyways," said Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. "This decision represents a crucial step forward and, coupled with dedicated efforts to plant native milkweed and nectar plants while reducing threats, gives us the opportunity to put this magnificent species on the path to recovery. Their future is in our hands."

The migratory monarch is the only known butterfly to make a two-way, multigenerational migration over thousands of miles. Where Western monarch numbers once reached the millions in the 1990s, the latest 2023 survey counted just 233,394 butterflies across more than 200 sites. The reality for the Eastern monarch is also grim. In the last year, the presence of monarch butterflies in their Mexico overwintering grounds dropped from 2.2 hectares to 0.9 hectares, the second-worst year ever recorded. These numbers are far below what experts have determined to be recovery indicators.

The rapid decline of this once-widespread species is driven by climate change, ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation, and the unnecessary, excessive use of pesticides. When a species is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, that means it is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future if conservation efforts aren't taken. The Endangered Species Act is one of our nation's most successful, foundational conservation laws and has helped save nearly 99 percent of listed species from extinction.

The National Wildlife Federation, America's largest and most trust conservation organization with more than 7 million members and supporters and 52 state and territorial affiliates, has dedicated initiatives that develop and advance programs to combat these challenges, including a prioritization of wildlife policy, community-based habitat restoration, pollinator and monarch education, and science-driven programs that address climate change and widespread impacts across the country.