Biodiversity advocates hailed a monumental step on Tuesday as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This long-awaited move follows years of advocacy and a lawsuit filed by conservation groups to address the alarming decline of these iconic pollinators.
The monarch butterfly, celebrated for its striking orange and black wings and epic migrations, has suffered a population drop of over 95% since the 1980s. Scientists warn that the western monarch faces a 99% chance of extinction within the next six decades without intervention.
A critical decision for conservation
“For too long, the monarch butterfly has been waiting in line, hoping for new protections while its population has plummeted,” said Steve Blackledge, senior director of conservation campaigns for Environment America. “This announcement by the Fish and Wildlife Service gets this iconic flier closer to the protections it needs, and given its staggering drop in numbers, that can’t happen soon enough.”
The FWS proposal includes designating 4,395 acres of critical overwintering habitat for the western monarch. If the protections are finalised—potentially by the end of 2025—landowners and developers would need federal approval for activities that could harm the butterfly’s habitat.
Monarchs in peril
The monarch butterfly’s life cycle is a remarkable feat of nature. Every spring, millions of monarchs migrate from Mexico to the United States, spreading across regions east of the Rocky Mountains to pollinate and reproduce. As the seasons change, they journey back south for the winter, completing one of the most awe-inspiring migrations on Earth.
However, their numbers have been decimated by a range of human-induced threats:
- Herbicides and pesticides: Widespread use of glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup has eradicated milkweed, the monarch caterpillar’s only food source. Additionally, neonicotinoid insecticides have been linked to pollinator declines.
- Habitat loss: Logging and deforestation in their overwintering sites have stripped monarchs of vital shelter.
- Vehicle collisions: Millions of butterflies perish during migration each year as they cross busy roads.
- Climate change: Rising temperatures disrupt their reproductive and migratory patterns, with warmer autumns causing butterflies to delay their migration, leaving them vulnerable to cold snaps.
Kristen Lundh, a biologist at the FWS, emphasised the urgency of the situation: “The species has been declining for a number of years. We’re hoping that this is a call to everybody to say this species is in decline, and now is our opportunity to help reverse that decline.”
A path towards recovery
While eastern monarchs still number in the millions, the western monarch population is estimated at a perilously low 233,394 butterflies. Experts stress that immediate action is crucial to preventing further losses.
Andrew Carter, director of conservation policy for Defenders of Wildlife, remarked: “The protections that come with Endangered Species Act listing increase the chance that these precious pollinators will rebound and recover throughout their historic range. The monarch butterfly is an iconic North American species and, like the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, it too deserves a chance at recovery.”
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The proposal is particularly significant given the challenges facing the ESA itself. During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump weakened the act, narrowing the definition of critical habitats and reducing protections for many species. Advocates argue that the monarch’s listing highlights the ongoing tension between industrial agriculture, pesticide use, and biodiversity conservation.
A landmark victory, but work remains
Conservation groups welcomed the proposal as a decade-long campaign finally bearing fruit. George Kimbrell, legal director at the Center for Food Safety, described the decision as both a triumph and a sobering reminder of broader ecological challenges.
“Today’s monarch listing decision is a landmark victory 10 years in the making. It is also a damning precedent, revealing the driving role of pesticides and industrial agriculture in the ongoing extinction crisis,” said Kimbrell. “But the job isn’t done. The service must do what science and the law require and promptly finalise protection for monarchs.”
A call to action
The FWS hopes that this step will inspire collective efforts to halt the decline of the monarch butterfly. Biologists, conservationists, and policymakers alike stress the need for widespread cooperation to restore habitats, regulate harmful pesticides, and combat climate change.
With the monarch butterfly now a poignant symbol of biodiversity under threat, its survival hinges on swift and sustained action. As Lundh poignantly concluded: “This is our opportunity to help reverse that decline.”
