Proposal and Expectations
Federal wildlife officials have proposed that monarch butterflies be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, aiming to protect their declining populations across .
The (FWS) plans to submit a proposed rule to the , with expectations that the listing will include accommodations for industries and individuals interacting with the species.
Challenges and Concerns
There are apprehensions among farmers and landowners that the listing could complicate existing conservation efforts and potentially expose them to liability, despite good-faith efforts to protect monarch habitats.
The proposal faces uncertainties due to the incoming Trump administration, which previously rolled back endangered species protections and postponed the monarch listing decision.
Population Decline and Conservation Efforts
Monarch populations have experienced dramatic declines, with eastern monarchs estimated to have decreased by over 80% since the 1990s and western populations by over 95% since the 1980s, driven by habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.
Conservationists and the FWS emphasize the importance of public involvement in planting native milkweeds and flowers to support monarchs, while the proposal seeks to balance habitat protection with the needs of agriculture and development.