U.S. Proposal Would Protect Monarch Butterfly as Threatened Species

The orange-and-black monarch butterfly, known for migrating thousands of miles, would be protected as a threatened species under a proposal by the Interior Department on Tuesday. The monarch population has dropped by 80% since the 1980s due to loss of habitat, exposure to pesticides, and climate change.

“The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating lifecycle. Despite its fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance,” said Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Along with designating the butterfly as threatened, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the listing of 4,395 acres along the California coast as critical habitat. It said the western migratory population of the monarch butterfly faced a 99% risk of extinction in the next half century, and the eastern population had a risk of up to 74%.

The agency would use so-called Section 4(d) flexibility in protecting the butterfly, which would allow many farming activities, including weed control, to continue, along with residential lawn maintenance. There would be no penalty for hitting a monarch butterfly with a car, for instance.

“The use of a 4(d) rule acknowledges the work farmers are undertaking to protect the monarch while recognizing the need for flexibility in conservation efforts between diverse regions and crops,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Public comment on the proposal will be accepted until March 12. The proposed regulation was scheduled to appear in the Federal Register on Thursday.