Possible Listing under the Endangered Species Act
Severe population declines over the past two decades in both the eastern and western populations of Monarchs prompted several groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in August 2014 to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Monarch Butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In December 2014, the Service determined that the petition was substantial, meaning that listing may be warranted. Because of an over whelming work load, the Service has delayed a listing decision for the Monarch until June 2019.
The Service uses a process called a Species Status Assessment (SSA) to review the status of a species. It looks at the species needs (at the individual, population and species level); gathers information on the species current status, threats and stressors; gathers information on current and planned conservation efforts; and projects future status of the species based on analysis of this information. The service talks with state agencies, researchers, other stakeholders such as industry or agricultural producers, combs through literature to find the most current information, and may undertake or request statistical analysis and modeling from experts.
The Service will decide in June 2019 if listing is warranted. If it’s not warranted, the process will end. If the Monarch is listed as threatened or endangered, regulations will be put into place to protect the species and aid in its recovery. However, a third choice is possible. Listing may be warranted, but can be deferred, if enough conservation efforts that have a certainty of effectiveness and implementation are being made, or are planned.
The FWS Monarch page has a wealth of information on the listing process in general and updates on the Monarch listing in particular.
Monarch populations are measured at the overwintering sites in central Mexico. These are aerial surveys that document the area in hectares that the over-wintering Monarch cover (1 hectare = 2.47 acres).
The Xerces Society has a well-documented publication with a description of the threats that Monarchs face, and a wealth of conservation materials.
The Service uses a process called a Species Status Assessment (SSA) to review the status of a species. It looks at the species needs (at the individual, population and species level); gathers information on the species current status, threats and stressors; gathers information on current and planned conservation efforts; and projects future status of the species based on analysis of this information. The service talks with state agencies, researchers, other stakeholders such as industry or agricultural producers, combs through literature to find the most current information, and may undertake or request statistical analysis and modeling from experts.
The Service will decide in June 2019 if listing is warranted. If it’s not warranted, the process will end. If the Monarch is listed as threatened or endangered, regulations will be put into place to protect the species and aid in its recovery. However, a third choice is possible. Listing may be warranted, but can be deferred, if enough conservation efforts that have a certainty of effectiveness and implementation are being made, or are planned.
The FWS Monarch page has a wealth of information on the listing process in general and updates on the Monarch listing in particular.
Monarch populations are measured at the overwintering sites in central Mexico. These are aerial surveys that document the area in hectares that the over-wintering Monarch cover (1 hectare = 2.47 acres).
The Xerces Society has a well-documented publication with a description of the threats that Monarchs face, and a wealth of conservation materials.