The additional time will allow FWS to consider two more sets of overwintering population numbers \u2014 the most recent numbers that were released in spring 2019 and next winter\u2019s count that will be released in spring 2020. These additional datasets will allow the agency to more accurately assess the overall trajectory of the species.<\/p>\n
The eastern population increased in 2018, but the overwhelming evidence shows a decline of 90% from historic levels that is correlated with the loss of milkweed habitat in the Midwest. Last year\u2019s population increase was attributable to near perfect weather conditions that are unlikely to align again. This year, monarchs left Mexico overwintering sites three weeks early, and are already in Canada much earlier than normal.<\/p>\n The western population plummeted to record lows in 2018. While the factors driving that steep decline remain uncertain, the long-term evidence indicates that land conversion of overwintering sites on the coast, pesticide exposure, climate change, parasites, disease and a reduction in breeding and nectar habitat are all contributing to the near-extinction status of the western migratory population.<\/p>\n This means that despite the delay, there\u2019s still a strong possibility that population studies will support a warranted listing for the monarch.<\/p>\n Opportunity to show that voluntary conservation works<\/strong><\/p>\n Monarch conservation stakeholders can scale up conservation work over the next two breeding seasons to greatly expand available habitat and give the monarch the best chance possible to avoid listing.<\/p>\n EDF is collaborating with agriculture associations in the Corn Belt and California\u2019s Central Valley and ranchers in Texas to voluntarily enhance milkweed and nectar plant habitat and increase the breeding success of monarchs along their migratory path.\u00a0Now is the time for farmers and conservation partners to expand the pace and scale of habitat growth for the monarch butterfly <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Expanding breeding and nectaring habitat is essential for the long-term survival and overall resilience of the species, and habitat quality and availability are key factors in FWS\u2019 ultimate decision.<\/p>\n Multiple benefits will follow<\/strong><\/p>\n Conservation efforts also have benefits for farmers and ranchers beyond sustaining the monarch and avoiding an endangered species listing decision.<\/p>\n Restoring patches of native grassland improves soil health, reduces erosion, filters nutrients, improves water quality, and provides habitat for other pollinators and birds like pheasants. This means that monarch habitat creation \u2014 especially on acres that are aren\u2019t commercially viable for farming or that are already dedicated to conservation practices \u2014 is a no-regrets investment no matter what FWS decides.<\/p>\n The delay should not be a signal to rest on previous accomplishments. EDF and partners are rolling up their sleeves to expand the pace and scale of habitat growth while we still have the chance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This mutually agreed upon delay creates an opportunity that shouldn\u2019t be missed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[120554],"tags":[56,75692],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-10617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agriculture","tag-conservation","tag-monarch-butterfly"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10617"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15476,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10617\/revisions\/15476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10617"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2019\/06\/monarch3.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n