By the end of next year, the US Fish and Wildlife Service intends to declare monarch butterflies to be included in US threatened species as a significant conservation milestone. Environmentalists have long been concerned about the diminishing monarch population, and this decision reflects their growing fears.

According to Martha Williams, head of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, “the iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating life cycle.” Monarchs would be protected under the Endangered Species Act, which forbids the killing or transfer of these species, with some exceptions. While farmers and individuals may still remove milkweed from their properties, they would not be allowed to alter land critical to the species significantly.

Additionally, 4,395 acres of vital habitat in seven coastal counties in California would be preserved by the designation. Public comments will be accepted for 90 days after the announcement. The plan will then be finalized or modified by the agency, and if it moves forward, the listing will be published by December 2025.

Declining Monarch Populations

Although monarchs are widely recognized as summertime icons in North America, their numbers have been alarmingly declining. Conservationists attribute this reduction to pesticide use, agricultural expansion, and climate change, all of which harm milkweed, the caterpillar’s main food source.

Only 2.2 acres of conventional overwintering groves were inhabited by monarchs in February, according to research by the World Wildlife Fund Mexico. This is a 59% decline from the previous year. Similarly, just 233,394 butterflies were recorded last year, representing an 81% decrease in monarch counts along the California coast over the previous 25 years, according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Monarch butterflies to be included in US threatened species designation underscores the urgency of addressing these alarming declines. Conservationists stress that without such a designation, efforts to restore habitat and curb population loss may not gain the traction or resources needed to make a meaningful difference. Monarchs face increasing threats from temperature changes brought on by climate calamities. These shifts may force monarchs to fly farther due to habitat loss, shortening their mating season, while warmer winters could delay or stop migrations.

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Conservation Efforts and Challenges

In 2014, the Centre for Biological Diversity filed a petition to declare monarch butterflies as endangered, which prompted efforts to secure federal protections for the species. Following a thorough analysis, the EPA determined in 2020 that listing was necessary but postponed because other species were given priority. The government has to decide on the listing by December 2024 as part of a settlement of a lawsuit in 2022.

Ninety per cent of US monarchs live east of the Rockies, where they face a 57%–74% chance of extinction by 2080. In contrast, western monarchs face a 95% chance of extinction in the same period. The species is not yet at immediate risk of extinction, as indicated by the proposed “threatened” designation.

The plan emphasizes the importance of public involvement to guide conservation efforts and address the challenges posed by habitat loss and climate change.

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