US takes steps to protect the monarch butterfly from extinction

U.S. officials are proposing to classify the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act due to severe population decline.

Dino Grandoni reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing protections for the monarch, citing climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use as key threats.
• If finalized, the designation would require large landowners to limit activities harmful to the butterfly’s habitat.
• The monarch’s population has dropped by up to 95% since the 1980s, especially in its Mexican overwintering grounds.

Key quote:

“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.”

— Kristen Lundh, Fish and Wildlife biologist

Why this matters:

Monarch butterflies are critical pollinators, and their decline signals broader environmental distress. Protecting them can help preserve ecosystems that support agriculture and biodiversity. Public and private efforts are needed to reverse the trend.

Related: Ultra-runners retrace monarch butterflies’ endangered migration route