Legislation Aims To Protect Monarch Butterflies

National Pollinator Week wrapped up Sunday, but before it did a pair of West Coast lawmakers introduced legislation aimed at saving one of the most iconic pollinators in the United States.  Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and California Representative Jimmy Panetta teamed up Friday to introduce the Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act, better known as the MONARCH Act.  The Democrats said the bicameral bill would help prevent the extinction of the Western Monarch butterfly and other critically important pollinators.

The MONARCH Act would provide protections for the struggling Western Monarch butterfly, whose population has dropped by 99% since the 1980s.  This legislation would authorize $62.5 million for projects aimed at conserving this iconic species and an additional $62.5 million to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in January 2019.  The $62.5 million in funding for each effort would be divided into five annual installments of $12.5 million.

Oregon's Ron Wyden cosponsored the MONARCH Act, along with senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Martin Heinrich, Tammy Duckworth, Chris Van Hollen, Alex Padilla, and Cory Booker in addition to Representative Salud Carbajal.

Organizations Throwing The Support Behind The MONARCH Act

The MONARCH Act is endorsed by leading environmental and conservation organizations including the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, Environment America, and the Center for Biological Diversity.

“Our monarchs are in grave danger. We’ve all experienced the moment of childhood joy and excitement when we spot a butterfly dancing in the air, and their beauty contributes to the health of our planet and the crops we rely on for sustenance, too,” Merkley said. “The monarch butterfly is in danger of extinction if we fail to take bold action to protect them, and we must all work together to advance sustainable solutions—like our MONARCH Act—to protect this iconic species and other pollinators.” 

“Pollinators are vital not only to the crops we grow, but to the ecosystems that sustain them. National Pollinator Week recognizes that working lands and natural landscapes are deeply connected and when pollinators thrive, Oregon’s agriculture, wildlife, and environment thrive together,” said Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture 

"ODFW believes that our biodiversity is worth protecting. That is why I am pleased to support National Pollinator Week as a celebration of our birds, bees, and butterflies and the critical role that these species play in sustaining the Oregon way of life,” said Debbie Colbert, Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Recently, the populations of our pollinators, including our western monarch butterfly, are decreasing dramatically, which could threaten our environment and agriculture,” said Panetta. “That’s why I’m reintroducing the MONARCH Act and our Pollinator Week Resolution which would restore critical habitat, invest in science-based conservation, and raise awareness of the importance of these essential species.  Protecting pollinators is a matter of environmental responsibility and agricultural resilience, and I’m committed to ensuring we do our part to save these species so central to the history and character of our home.”

The Monarch Population Has Decreased 99% In 40 Years

“Western monarch butterflies are in trouble as populations have declined from as many as ten million in the 1980s to less than 10,000 in 2024 – a loss of 99%,” said Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  “The MONARCH Act will help provide the resources needed to recover western monarch populations so that our kids and grandkids can enjoy and delight in this migration for generations to come.”

“Pollinators are vital to life on our planet, and we are very happy to support the designation of National Pollinator Week,” said Scott Hoffman Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “Continuing to recognize the importance of these animals is a significant step to ensure they grace our farms, meadows and cities into the future.” 

“The MONARCH Act recognizes that we must act quickly if we want to save America’s most iconic butterfly from collapse,” said Stephanie Kurose, deputy director of government affairs at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Western monarchs need all the help they can get. This bill gives them a glimmer of hope of surviving the extinction crisis.” 

“Monarch butterflies and their epic migratory journey are a miracle of nature, spreading joy across America each year – but they could go extinct on our watch,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America. “Environment America is proud to support the MONARCH Act, which will protect these butterflies and the habitat they need so they can continue to fill our skies and our hearts.” 

“Our country is blessed with nearly 4,000 wild bee species, from the American bumblebee to the Southeastern blueberry bee,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America. “But many bees are disappearing from our fields, forests and gardens as we use more pesticides. This Pollinator Week, let’s work together to save the bees.”

Click Here to read the full text of the MONARCH Act.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com