Monarchs At Risk

 

Monarch butterflies are facing significant threats that put them at risk of extinction. Since the 1980s, Western monarchs have declined by 99%, and Eastern monarchs by over 90%.

 

Threats to Monarchs

  • Breeding Habitat Loss:
    • This significantly influences the decline in the overwintering monarch population across the U.S. Urban development, agricultural expansion, and deforestation are primary contributors to the loss of breeding habitats.
  • Overwintering Habitat Loss:
    • Conservation and management are crucial for the future of overwintering habitats in California and Mexico. Logging, land development, and climate change pose significant threats to these critical areas.
  • Climate Change:
    • Models suggest climate change may force monarchs to alter their migratory patterns. Extreme weather events, such as droughts, storms, and temperature fluctuations, can impact their survival and migration routes.
  • Pesticides:
    • Beneficial insects, including monarchs, are negatively affected by pesticide use. Chemicals like neonicotinoids can harm monarchs by contaminating their food sources and habitats.
  • Natural Enemies:
    • Monarchs, despite some protection from milkweed toxins, remain vulnerable to predation and disease. Less than 5% of monarch eggs survive to adulthood due to predation by birds, spiders, and parasitic wasps.

 

IUCN Red List

On July 21, 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed migratory monarchs as endangered on their Red List of Threatened Species. However, this does not mean immediate legal protection in the U.S. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) must conduct its own Species Status Assessments to decide on protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

 

In 2020, USFWS completed an assessment and deemed protections “warranted but precluded” by higher priority actions, with a final decision expected by 2024. Meanwhile, monarchs remain a “candidate species” for ESA listing and protection.

 

On September 27, 2023, the IUCN revised the monarch’s status from “endangered” to “vulnerable” following a petition by Dr. Andy Davis, who identified methodological errors in the initial assessment. The IUCN agreed the population is not endangered but remains “vulnerable.”

 

Importance of Monarch Conservation

Conserving monarch butterflies is not just about saving a beautiful species; it’s about preserving the intricate web of life that depends on them. Monarchs play a crucial role in pollinating various plants, contributing to the health and biodiversity of ecosystems. Their presence indicates the overall health of our environment, and their decline serves as a warning sign of broader ecological issues. By protecting monarchs, we also safeguard countless other species that share their habitats and depend on the same ecological processes.