$1 Million Grant Prioritizes Future of Monarch Butterflies, Addresses Pollinator Conservation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior’s $1 million grant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund and creation of the Pollinator Conservation Center will amplify the conservation efforts to address and reverse the recent decline of pollinators, including monarch butterflies.

“The monarch butterfly is in peril and needs continued investment and attention now more than ever. Our deepest gratitude goes to Senator Merkley and Secretary Haaland for recognizing this need and stepping forward as trailblazers for this awe-inspiring species,” said Dr. Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón, chief monarch recovery strategist for the National Wildlife Federation. “This investment is a timely and much-needed step in the right direction to help secure a future for monarch butterflies and all pollinators. We are now given a great opportunity to continue strengthening our conservation efforts by working together across multidisciplinary agencies and organizations and asking our legislators to pass key wildlife conservation bills.”

The investments were announced at the first-ever Monarch Butterfly Summit in Washington, D.C.

  • The Interior Department will award $1 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund. This public-private partnership program will focus on the western monarch butterfly by improving the availability of high-quality habitat; increasing the capacity needed to expand conservation efforts into the future; and supporting the implementation of technical assistance to engage private landowners with pollinator conservation practices on working lands. By leveraging the resources and expertise of partners, the program aims to help reverse recent population declines and ensure the survival of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will establish a Pollinator Conservation Center to address the decline of pollinators, including monarch butterflies. The Pollinator Conservation Center, funded through annual appropriations, will support conservation decisions where they occur. Staff will not only work across all agency programs and regions but also with other agencies and organizations as a hub for improving the state of science and the direct conservation actions that can reverse population trends.

Habitat loss and fragmentation continue to be at the top of the list as the major threat to monarchs. Climate change worsens habitat loss and fragmentation, which affects the monarch’s breeding grounds, migratory stopover habitats and overwintering areas. Legislation like the Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act of 2021 (Monarch Act 2021), and the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act are imperative to making sure we allocate the capacity and resources needed to protect this iconic species and ensure future populations thrive. 

 

 

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