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The Monarch Butterfly, the state butterfly of West Virginia, is disappearing from our state and from across the country. In fact, Monarch Butterflies population declines have become so pronounced that Monarchs are now being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. While there are many causes for the Monarch’s decline (habitat loss, disease, etc.), there are also many potential solutions.
The Mountain State Monarch and Pollinator Partnership hosted a Monarch Summit March 5-6, 2018 at Jackson’s Mill, Weston, WV. We brought together, hopefully, all the parties who have the potential to affect Monarch Butterfly populations and/or be affected by the Monarch’s potential Endangered Species Act listing. We sought representatives from agriculture, conservation agencies, transportation, the mining industry, the oil and gas industry, the forest products industry, community groups, and planning commissions, as well as anyone with ideas of how we can work together to bring healthy populations of our state butterfly back to West Virginia. Every sector has a valuable perspective with ideas to contribute; we want to hear from you! The 2018 West Virginia Monarch Summit, a day and a half event, provided a forum to gather ideas from West Virginia’s public, private, and commercial sectors to create a reasonable, voluntary, workable Monarch Conservation Strategy. With this strategy, West Virginia will be poised to 1) conserve Monarch Butterflies and their habitat, 2) develop and implement actions that will help prevent the listing of Monarch Butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, and thereby 3) avoid additional regulations. We need your input and participation to make West Virginia’s strategy a success. |
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The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an iconic North American wildlife species. Easily recognizable by citizens across the country, the eastern population is known for its migratory journeys from the United States and Canada to central Mexico in the fall, and back in the spring. The population in the western United States migrate from coastal areas west into the Rockies in the spring, and back in the fall. Monarchs are tied to species of milkweed (Asclepias sp): the only plants that the caterpillar can survive on.
Populations have been impacted by several factors including habitat loss, disease, mortality from pesticides, and severe weather events, resulting in a 90% decline over the past two decades. The disappearance of the species from many localities has prompted the effort to list it under the Endangered Species Act.
States and municipalities in regions where the Monarch was once a common back yard butterfly are developing voluntary conservation strategies supported by diverse local grass roots efforts to provide habitat for the butterfly. For many areas in the northern tier of the United States, enhancing habitat by planting milkweed and nectar producing native flowers is the key.
Populations have been impacted by several factors including habitat loss, disease, mortality from pesticides, and severe weather events, resulting in a 90% decline over the past two decades. The disappearance of the species from many localities has prompted the effort to list it under the Endangered Species Act.
States and municipalities in regions where the Monarch was once a common back yard butterfly are developing voluntary conservation strategies supported by diverse local grass roots efforts to provide habitat for the butterfly. For many areas in the northern tier of the United States, enhancing habitat by planting milkweed and nectar producing native flowers is the key.