WSFR - Assisting States with Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Conservation
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking a lead role to help save the monarch butterfly that has been on a steady decline by 90 percent in recent years. As a result, the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) has committed to assist States to include actions for monarch butterfly and other pollinator conservation projects funded through WSFR grants.
In this "Video Series: Saving The Monarch Butterfly”, Kim Betton reports on research and partnership successes through the Monarch Joint Venture, State Wildlife Action Plans, the value of educating our youth – our future conservationists, and how you can get involved to help make a difference.
Many pollinators have suffered severe declines over the past two decades. Contributing to this decline are loss of habitat for nourishment and life-cycle needs, pesticide usage, land management practices, predators and diseases, and proliferation of non-native plant and insect species. State fish and wildlife agencies cannot address all factors involved in declining pollinator populations, but some examples of the actions they can do are:
- Include pollinators in their State Wildlife Action Plans as Species of Greatest Conservation Need
- Add pollinator-friendly habitat as part of projects for other target species
- Review management practices to make them more pollinator friendly
On June 20, 2014 the White House issued a Presidential Memorandum detailing expectations for Federal agencies to internally and externally address proactive pollinator conservation.
On September 4, 2014, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe issued a memorandum to the Service Directorate to develop a strategy for monarch conservation, to include plans for habitat restoration and enhancement, education and outreach, and monitoring and research needs. Both of these initiatives include aggressive schedules for actions.
In recognition and support of our mutual conservation concerns, the voting membership of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) passed a resolution on September 24, 2014 (Resolution 2014-1) supporting “voluntary and incentive-based efforts to address threats of loss, fragmentation and modification of monarch breeding habitat” including numerous milkweed species which serve as the monarch butterfly’s larval host plants in North America.
Included in this web space are guidance, resources, and ideas for States to use in making strides forward to address monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation. Ideas and suggestions from States are encouraged.
Send WSFR grant/pollinator success stories to Kim Betton.
Send suggestions for additional resources and references to Lisa Van Alstyne.