Why are Monarchs declining?
There are many documented reasons for the declines in monarch populations. These include disease, climate change, changes in land use and farming practices, increased herbicide use via the dawn of herbicide-resistant crops, insecticide use, loss of overwintering habitat, and loss of larval plants (milkweed) and nectaring resources.
Who is in the Mountain State Monarch and Pollinator Partnership?
At this very early stage the Division of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, West Virginia State Parks, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, West Virginia University and West Virginia Extension Service are all cooperating on this initiative; but we will be adding additional partners as the process goes on. We want a diverse and inclusive group that represents all of West Virginia.
Who will be involved in the West Virginia Monarch Summit?
Invitees to the West Virginia Monarch Summit are from the forest products, oil and gas, mining, transportation and agricultural industries, NGOs, federal, state, and local agencies and municipalities, conservation organizations and educational institutions from all across West Virginia. Since the impact of listing the Monarch would ripple through all sectors, we are striving to include all the parties who have a vested interest in maintaining sustainable West Virginia Monarch populations.
What do you hope to achieve at the West Virginia Monarch Summit? We hope to develop the framework of a Monarch Conservation Strategy for WV while building a Cooperative network of representatives from agencies and industries throughout West Virginia. This network will be critical for the successful construction of our Monarch Conservation Strategy. We are counting on participants to share their varied perspectives, concerns, questions, ideas, and information which will go into a thorough Monarch Strategy that will work for West Virginia.
What is WV’s Monarch Conservation Strategy?
We don’t have an active Strategy in place at this time. The Summit is an initial step to developing a written strategy – the input from those attending the Summit will provide the framework of it.
How will our Monarch Conservation Strategy be used?
The strategy that we develop will be a part of a larger nationwide plan that can be presented to the US Fish and Wildlife Service as evidence that significant steps are being taken to conserve monarchs and the habitats they require. This, combined with initial actions on the ground to promote monarchs and their habitats, will hopefully be enough to prevent the need to list the Monarchs.
Will I be contributing to the writing of the Monarch Conservation Strategy?
Your participation in the Summit and in the writing of the Strategy is voluntary. However, we encourage every stakeholder to attend the Summit and contribute to the drafting of the Strategy. Our plan is to divide our Stakeholders into appropriate working groups, through which they can contribute content to the drafts of the Strategy and edit later versions, if they so choose.
How does the Monarch Conservation Strategy and the Monarch Summit affect me/my job?
If West Virginia and other states do not develop thoughtful, workable strategies for Monarch conservation, the Monarch may well become listed as the latest species to gain protection under the Endangered Species Act. With a “listed” status, the Monarch would receive protections that could significantly impact land uses in West Virginia. Therefore, by contributing to the development of our Strategy, you have the power to help prevent future regulations that might markedly change the way you and your company/organization do your work.
Is this Summit and Strategy preliminary to imposing regulations?
No, the Summit and the Strategy will be voluntary. In fact, we are trying to avoid regulation that might be imposed if the monarch is listed; the decision is due June 2019. The development and implementation of a good Strategy can remove the need for listing and thereby West Virginia could avoid mandated regulations.
What will be the cost of the Monarch Summit?
In order to encourage attendance from all our stakeholders, we are actively seeking sponsors to offset costs and make participation in the Summit as affordable as possible. Exact prices of room and board will be communicated as soon as we know those figures.
What are the lodging facilities like at Jackson’s Mill?
There are various lodging options at Jackson's Mill. These range from private hotel-style rooms to bunk hall-style cottages. There are additional lodging options in Weston and other nearby areas.
There are many documented reasons for the declines in monarch populations. These include disease, climate change, changes in land use and farming practices, increased herbicide use via the dawn of herbicide-resistant crops, insecticide use, loss of overwintering habitat, and loss of larval plants (milkweed) and nectaring resources.
Who is in the Mountain State Monarch and Pollinator Partnership?
At this very early stage the Division of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, West Virginia State Parks, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, West Virginia University and West Virginia Extension Service are all cooperating on this initiative; but we will be adding additional partners as the process goes on. We want a diverse and inclusive group that represents all of West Virginia.
Who will be involved in the West Virginia Monarch Summit?
Invitees to the West Virginia Monarch Summit are from the forest products, oil and gas, mining, transportation and agricultural industries, NGOs, federal, state, and local agencies and municipalities, conservation organizations and educational institutions from all across West Virginia. Since the impact of listing the Monarch would ripple through all sectors, we are striving to include all the parties who have a vested interest in maintaining sustainable West Virginia Monarch populations.
What do you hope to achieve at the West Virginia Monarch Summit? We hope to develop the framework of a Monarch Conservation Strategy for WV while building a Cooperative network of representatives from agencies and industries throughout West Virginia. This network will be critical for the successful construction of our Monarch Conservation Strategy. We are counting on participants to share their varied perspectives, concerns, questions, ideas, and information which will go into a thorough Monarch Strategy that will work for West Virginia.
What is WV’s Monarch Conservation Strategy?
We don’t have an active Strategy in place at this time. The Summit is an initial step to developing a written strategy – the input from those attending the Summit will provide the framework of it.
How will our Monarch Conservation Strategy be used?
The strategy that we develop will be a part of a larger nationwide plan that can be presented to the US Fish and Wildlife Service as evidence that significant steps are being taken to conserve monarchs and the habitats they require. This, combined with initial actions on the ground to promote monarchs and their habitats, will hopefully be enough to prevent the need to list the Monarchs.
Will I be contributing to the writing of the Monarch Conservation Strategy?
Your participation in the Summit and in the writing of the Strategy is voluntary. However, we encourage every stakeholder to attend the Summit and contribute to the drafting of the Strategy. Our plan is to divide our Stakeholders into appropriate working groups, through which they can contribute content to the drafts of the Strategy and edit later versions, if they so choose.
How does the Monarch Conservation Strategy and the Monarch Summit affect me/my job?
If West Virginia and other states do not develop thoughtful, workable strategies for Monarch conservation, the Monarch may well become listed as the latest species to gain protection under the Endangered Species Act. With a “listed” status, the Monarch would receive protections that could significantly impact land uses in West Virginia. Therefore, by contributing to the development of our Strategy, you have the power to help prevent future regulations that might markedly change the way you and your company/organization do your work.
Is this Summit and Strategy preliminary to imposing regulations?
No, the Summit and the Strategy will be voluntary. In fact, we are trying to avoid regulation that might be imposed if the monarch is listed; the decision is due June 2019. The development and implementation of a good Strategy can remove the need for listing and thereby West Virginia could avoid mandated regulations.
What will be the cost of the Monarch Summit?
In order to encourage attendance from all our stakeholders, we are actively seeking sponsors to offset costs and make participation in the Summit as affordable as possible. Exact prices of room and board will be communicated as soon as we know those figures.
What are the lodging facilities like at Jackson’s Mill?
There are various lodging options at Jackson's Mill. These range from private hotel-style rooms to bunk hall-style cottages. There are additional lodging options in Weston and other nearby areas.