On July 22, 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the migratory monarch butterfly to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as “endangered” — two steps from extinction. Known for its spectacular annual journey of up to 3,000 miles across the Americas, the monarchs are threatened by habitat destruction, pesticides and climate change.
What is the IUCN, you ask? IUCN is a membership union of government and civil society organizations. Together, they work to advance sustainable development and create a just world that values and conserves nature. IUCN Members include national and subnational governments and government agencies as well as non-governmental and indigenous peoples’ organizations from over 160 countries. IUCN Commissions are networks of scientists and experts providing IUCN and its Members with technical and policy advice to drive conservation and sustainable development. The U.S. is part of the IUCN’s North America and Caribbean statutory region. Hundreds of IUCN Commission experts are based in the U.S. But the IUCN has no jurisdiction over endangered species protections in the U.S.
Despite the thorough scientific assessment and consensus behind the IUCN’s official designation of the monarch butterfly as endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the government agency responsible for the application of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), has failed to offer any protections to the threatened, iconic butterfly. On December 15, 2020, the FWS announced that listing the monarch butterfly under the ESA is warranted but “precluded by higher priority listing actions.” With this finding, the monarch butterfly became a candidate for listing but no further action has been taken to protect the dangerously low population of these beloved butterflies. Instead, the FWS defers to limited financial grants and voluntary actions by energy and transmission companies, and state departments of transportation. The IUCN has sent a clear signal – voluntary actions are not enough.
Logging and deforestation to make space for industrial agriculture and urban development have destroyed substantial areas of the butterflies’ winter shelter in Mexico and California. Milkweed, the sole food of monarch caterpillars, was once abundant, with wild plants growing between crop rows and on roadsides. But the widespread use of pesticides – toxic herbicides and insecticides like neonicotinoids – in industrial agriculture and landscapes across the migration path, kills both the milkweed that caterpillars depend on for survival and the butterflies.
Climate disruptions have also significantly impacted the migratory monarch butterfly and are a fast-growing threat. Drought conditions limit the growth of milkweed. Heat and drought together are a recipe for the more frequent catastrophic wildfires that destroy milkweed and monarch habitat. Extreme temperature swings trigger earlier migrations before milkweed is available. Severe and dangerous weather has killed millions of butterflies.
Not only are the monarchs the most recognizable butterfly in the world, but like wild bees they are essential pollinators. As their migration journey takes them across the continent, humans benefit directly from the pollination services they provide. We thank them not only for the beautiful flowers they pollinate, but also for many foods like blueberries and squash that are staples in our diet.
According to the most recent count released in early 2022, the western monarch population remains more than 95% below its size in the 1980s, when low millions were observed most years. The eastern migratory population has also declined by approximately 70% since monitoring began in the 1990s. And monarchs are a canary in the environmental coal mine. The dramatic decline in the monarch butterfly population parallels other declining animal populations.
“Few species evoke the awe and wonder that the migratory monarch butterfly commands,” said Dr. Sean T. O’Brien, President and CEO of NatureServe. “While efforts to protect this species are encouraging, much is still needed to ensure its long-term survival.”
Voluntary actions and limited grant money won’t ensure the long-term survival of this beautiful butterfly. It’s time for the FWS to step up and do the right thing. It must be made a priority. FWS must officially list the monarch butterfly as an endangered species and afford the butterflies all the protections mandated by the Endangered Species Act. The Supreme Court found that “the plain intent of Congress in enacting” the ESA “was to halt and reverse the trend toward species extinction, whatever the cost.”
Tell the FWS to add the monarch butterfly to the list of Endangered Species now, before it’s too late. Send an email to FWS. We’ve made it super-easy. Use the pre-written text or edit it to make it your own. TAKE ACTION HERE.
We also have the power to pitch in and support the endangered monarchs. Here is a list of things we can do:
- Plant native milkweed. Plant your milkweed amidst other plants to give your caterpillars cover from the birds and other predators that eat them. There are many types of milkweed. It’s important to plant only native varieties. Find your native varieties HERE.
- Reduce your lawn size and plant more native blooming plants instead. Include nectar-rich varieties to help feed the butterflies.
- Plant native, nectar-rich flowers to provide food for adult butterflies such as:
Annuals:
- Zinnias
- Verbena
- Cosmos
- Lantana
Perennials
- Buddleia (butterfly bush)
- Goldenrod
- Echinacea
- Agastache (Hummingbird mint)
For a list of native plants that host butterflies and moths specific to your zip code, use this Native Plant Finder.
- Don’t use pesticides (insecticides, fungicides and herbicides).
- Become a registered, certified Monarch Waystation. Learn more HERE.
- Speak with your city council and encourage your local government to support monarchs, too.
- Do you have other conservation ideas to help protect the Monarch butterflies? Leave a comment below.
READ RELATED ARTICLE: Should we protect nature for its own sake? For its economic value? Because it makes us happy? Yes
Companies who pollute need to stop. Big Ag needs to stop. Small farms are the way to go. Bring back common sense. Eduacte!!!
Companies who pollute need to stop. Big Ag needs to stop. Small farms are the way to go. Bring back common sense!!! Educate thru all ways. Start with grade school up. Encourage media to educate.
WHY do so-called ‘parents’ leave EVERYTHING to skools (spelled on purpose) to ‘educate’ THEIR CHILDREN!! It is THE PARENTS who should be EDUCATING their own children! Skools do NOT EDUCATE! And they haven’t done so for more than a 100 years (as well documented by Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt; The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America) . It’s INDOCTRINATION. There would be no way in hell that I would ever send my child(ren) to these SKOOLS; it’s CHILD ABUSE!
99.99% of the worlds problems can be traced back to……’IT’S THE PARENTS FAULT!’.
Generation after generation of CRAP PARENTS has led us to the ‘HELL ON EARTH’ in which we now find ourselves.
Just learned that Charlotte Iserbyt passed away, earlier this year. A GREAT LOSS for AMERICA! But, she has left a great Legacy (LEARN from her EXTENSIVE work!)!
RIP Charlotte Iserbyt, Educational Giant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to04MumYvcQ
My goodness! This is disrespectful to both parents and to teachers. All parents do not have the time or the education to pass on to their children, and many, if not most teachers are dedicated to leveling the playing field so that all children get a basic education. The parents add what they can from their areas of expertise the cultural, religious, and political education that they feel their children need. Blame does not solve problems.
Absolutely! Common sense is not that common anymore. Just think, if every school science class from 7th grade all the way through high school started raising monarchs and releasing them? WOW that could definitely make a difference.
What the ppl above said. Every person reading this knows right from wrong; act on it.
That’s just it…….individuals do NOT know Right from Wrong. Especially if they are a Sociopath/Psychopath.
The Monarch Butterfly is on of the most regal and majestic of our Creator’s creations!
When my husband was alive, we designated 1000acres of our farms, as a Monarch waystation – Since his passing, I have moved from the area we owned and farmed, to a much smaller lot – As a result of the move, I seldom see Monarch evidence in my surrounds.
Although, over the years I have taken the initiative to plant milkweed (More than seventy species, and an essential food of the Monarch), roses, morning glory, honeysuckle, amaranth, and a variety of other flowering plants for the Monarch to live by, on my 100 acre lot.
Also, there is no use of pesticides, nor herbicides in or around my world – I take this with a heaping spoonful of salt, as these contaminates are the cause of death, for many a farmer, insects, caterpillar, lizard, birds and other wildlife which forage on these critters, or of the contaminated land.
Which leads me to my point: Many of the farmers who are pushed into using these poisons, are ignorant to the ramifications of their usage or handling of.
For example; A friend of mine believes the herbicide, “Gramoxone” is non-toxic and a better solution for use. When in fact, Syngenta has only re-labeled “Paraquat”, to “Gramoxone”.
Paraquat is one of the deadliest poisons on the market – It is fatal if ingested or inhaled, and has no place one our planet!
By the way, while we are on the subject of, living a clean life; People need to be educated on the benefits of going completely organic. In doing so, poison can be eradicated.
Buying organic products, no matter whether it be toiletries, textiles, soaps, etc…is less expensive in the long run, than the alternate GMO/pesticide/herbicide variety of anything. Paying an organic farmer is worth it’s weight in being healthy for life. Buying organic products, is a choice.
Rather than paying brand name companies to poison your food, clothing, air, and water – Then to go on to allow pharma to finish you off with synthetic drugs, get back to Nature, BUY ONLY ORGANIC.
The more we demand organic, the less we will see poisonous items in our midst.
Organic foods just taste yummier. Organic textiles are safe for the eco-system, costs less to produce and are free of pollutants. Organic toiletries also feel and smell divine as they are derived from organic plant life.
Creator Bless Us All.
Thank you for speaking the truth and practicing the truth in your life. I love organic!!
Amen
AMEN
On July 22, 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the migratory monarch butterfly to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as “endangered” — two steps from extinction. Despite the thorough scientific assessment and consensus behind the IUCN’s official designation of the monarch butterfly as endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the government agency responsible for the application of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), has failed to offer any protections to the threatened, iconic butterfly. On December 15, 2020, the FWS announced that listing the monarch butterfly under the ESA is warranted but “precluded by higher priority listing actions.” With this finding, the monarch butterfly became a candidate for listing but no further action has been taken to protect the dangerously low population of these beloved butterflies. Instead, the FWS defers to limited financial grants and voluntary actions by energy and transmission companies, and state departments of transportation. The IUCN has sent a clear signal – voluntary actions are not enough!
Add the monarch butterfly to the list of Endangered Species now, before it’s too late.
On July 22, 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the migratory monarch butterfly to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as “endangered” — two steps from extinction. Known for its spectacular annual journey of up to 3,000 miles across the Americas, the monarchs are threatened by habitat destruction, pesticides and climate change.
Despite the thorough scientific assessment and consensus behind the IUCN’s official designation of the monarch butterfly as endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has failed to offer any protections to the threatened, iconic butterfly. With this finding, the monarch butterfly became a candidate for listing but no further action has been taken to protect the dangerously low population of these beloved butterflies. Instead, the FWS defers to limited financial grants and voluntary actions by energy and transmission companies, and state departments of transportation. The IUCN has sent a clear signal – voluntary actions are not enough.
Voluntary actions and limited grant money won’t ensure the long-term survival of this beautiful butterfly. It’s time for the FWS to step up and do the right thing. It must be made a priority. FWS must officially list the monarch butterfly as an endangered species and afford the butterflies all the protections mandated by the Endangered Species Act.
Thank you for your consideration and cooperation in this matter.
FWS add the monarch butterfly to the list of Endangered Species please.
Is U.S. Fish & Wildlife waiting until the Monarchs go the way of the Dodo? If my garden here in Santa Barbara is anything to go by —— Monarch butterflies are in DEEP DOODOO. I used to have so many Monarch caterpillars on my milkweed that the plants were eaten down to the nubs. More than a few times I had to box up caterpillars and share with people who still had some leaves left on their milkweed plants.
The other day I saw ONE caterpillar on my milkweed. I got so excited. Then . . . I felt horribly sad. Really? ONE caterpillar where there used to be over 100?
U.S. Fish & Wildlife needs to step up and take action. List Monarch butterflies as endangered NOW. ————–And I’m not just going to say this here. I’m going to contact USFW and tell them to list Monarch butterflies. It may already be too late, but DO SOMETHING.
I moved to Oregon in 2005. 2005 to 2009 there were literally 50 Monarchs per day in my yard (summer) and I have pictures of them. Subsequent years fewer, fewer, fewer until about 2013 zero and I haven’t seen a Monarch to this day, 2022.
Growing as a kid in Vermont, I used to see hundreds of Monarchs in the field behind our home.
That was 70 years ago. I am told by friends in my community they never see them anymore.
For years, the State Highway Dept. eradicated milkweed. I do not know if that still happens.
I have written the EPA for well over 30 years regarding asking them to educate and stop use of
all these dangerous chemicals. I got to speak with a former EPA high up in EPA & was told the
dept. caters to industry not to the average citizen which explains why nothing is being done to
stop killing so much of life on the planet.
Hundreds of thousands of citizens across North America are already involved in creating habitats in their gardens and rearing monarchs to increase migration numbers.
Anybody can find them across the social media sites like Facebook, and yet the scientific community doesn’t have the time to look for them, acknowledge their efforts, or guide them
through the process. The saddest part of all this is that a few scientists are actually trying to discourage them from this activity, while they offer no substantial solution to the problem.