Monarch Butterflies Receive Proposed Protection Under Endangered Species Act
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
A Declining Icon
The iconic orange-and-black butterfly, once a common sight across North America, has seen its numbers plummet in recent decades. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change are cited as key contributors to its decline.
Western Population Receives Stronger Protection Measures
The proposed rule designates the monarch butterfly as threatened
across its entire range in the contiguous U.S., with the exception of a substantially stronger “endangered” designation for the monarch that resides west of the Rocky Mountains. The western population, once numbering in the hundreds of millions, has declined by more than 99% since the 1980s, and experts warn it is facing imminent extinction.
The decision follows a slew of lawsuits
and petitions by environmental groups, including concerns frominsect advocates and conservationists who raised concerns over the ongoing decline of the monarch butterfly populations.
Renewed Hope for these Migratory Marvels
The proposal, although not yet finalized, offers a glimmer of hope for this magnificent migratory species. If finalized as planned, the proposed rule will provide crucial protections for the declining butterfly.
Dedicated Funds for Recovery Efforts
Accompanying the endangered species listing, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with others, announced a $760,000 grant dedicated. to bolster monarch butterfly recovery in Western. The lifeline comes as part of ongoing national efforts to protect the iconic insect.
Funding from the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund will directly support various conservation projects tailored to specifically aid the western monarch butterfly.
