U.S. Monarch Butterfly Listing Proposal Advances

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act due to its significant population decline, attributed to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. The proposal comes after years of advocacy and highlights the butterfly's importance as a pollinator critical to maintaining biodiversity. If approved, the listing would prohibit certain harmful activities while allowing for exceptions to encourage conservation efforts, such as maintaining milkweed, a crucial food source. This decision invites public participation until March 2025 and aims to build on existing conservation efforts to restore monarch populations. The monarch's plight is seen as a broader environmental warning, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human and wildlife health. Organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity and World Wildlife Fund stress the need for collaborative efforts to ensure the butterfly's survival.