The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has formally listed our beloved Monarch Butterfly as an endangered species. They have said that the dire threat to these beautiful butterflies is due to climate change, deforestation, pesticides and logging.

The director-general of IUCN – Dr. Bruno Oberle, who is one of the world’s leading scientific authorities on species conservation – said the new listing “highlights the fragility of nature’s wonders, such as the unique spectacle of monarch butterflies migrating across thousands of kilometers,” a reference to the insects’ remarkable biannual journey across North America.

“To preserve the rich diversity of nature, we need effective, fairly governed protected and conserved areas, alongside decisive action to tackle climate change and restore ecosystems.”

Dr Oberle went on to say:

“In turn, conserving biodiversity supports communities by providing essential services such as food, water, and sustainable jobs.”

The population of monarch butterflies in North America has been falling rapidly in recent years, a decline largely unabated by any government action to protect the imperilled insects or to fight the climate crisis that is pushing them to the brink of extinction.

Recent Research

 Recent research has attributed the monarch butterfly’s decline to the climate emergency. The IUCN notes that….

“Climate change has significantly impacted the migratory monarch butterfly and is a fast-growing threat; drought limits the growth of milkweed and increases the frequency of catastrophic wildfires, temperature extremes trigger earlier migrations before milkweed is available, while severe weather has killed millions of butterflies.

The western population is at greatest risk of extinction, having declined by an estimated 99.9%, from as many as 10 million to 1,914 butterflies between the 1980s and 2021.

The larger eastern population also shrunk by 84% from 1996 to 2014. Concern remains as to whether enough butterflies survive to maintain the populations and prevent extinction.”

Additionally, the IUCN has stressed….

“Legal and illegal logging and deforestation to make space for agriculture and urban development have also destroyed substantial areas of the butterflies’ winter shelter in Mexico and California, while pesticides and herbicides used in intensive agriculture across the range kill butterflies and milkweed, the host plant that the larvae of the monarch butterfly feed on.”

A senior member of the IUCN SSC Butterfly and Moth Specialist Group, Anna Walker, who spearheaded the monarch butterfly assessment said:

“While it is difficult to watch monarch butterflies and their extraordinary migration teeter on the edge of collapse … there are signs of hope.

So many people and organisations have come together to try and protect this butterfly and its habitats.

From planting native milkweed and reducing pesticide use to supporting the protection of overwintering sites and contributing to community science, we all have a role to play in making sure this iconic insect makes a full recovery.”

The Endangered migratory monarch butterfly is a subspecies of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). The native population, known for its migrations from Mexico and California in the winter to summer breeding grounds throughout the United States and Canada, has shrunk by between 22% and 72% over the past decade.

Legal and illegal logging and deforestation to make space for agriculture and urban development has already destroyed substantial areas of the butterflies’ winter shelter in Mexico and California, while pesticides and herbicides used in intensive agriculture across the range kill butterflies and milkweed, the host plant that the larvae of the monarch butterfly feed on.

Climate change has significantly impacted the migratory monarch butterfly and is a fast-growing threat; drought limits the growth of milkweed and increases the frequency of catastrophic wildfires, temperature extremes trigger earlier migrations before milkweed is available, while severe weather has killed millions of butterflies.

The Red List

The UCN Red List includes 147,517 different species, 41,459 of which are now threatened with extinction. Established in 1964, the Red List is the world’s most comprehensive source of information regarding the status of the world’s animal, fungus, and plant species. The Red List is continuously updated by their scientists.

Dr Bruno Oberle said:

“Today’s Red List update highlights the fragility of nature’s wonders, such as the unique spectacle of monarch butterflies migrating across thousands of kilometres. 

To preserve the rich diversity of nature we need effective, fairly governed protected and conserved areas, alongside decisive action to tackle climate change and restore ecosystems. In turn,conserving biodiversity supports communities by providing essential services such as food, water and sustainable jobs.”

And Finally

From an adorable panda to the amazing white shark, from the Tristan albatross to the Titicaca water frog and pangolins, these are all endangered species. This means they are all under a very real threat of extinction if nothing is done to prevent it.

Today we look at pictures of the dinosaurs and wonder what those incredible creatures were like. One day, our grandchildren might stare at a picture of a tiger and ask why didn’t we make enough effort to save them.

For this reason, we must raise awareness about every species which is in danger of extinction, and most importantly, we must take action to protect the biodiversity of our planet.

In the last 500 years, more than 900 species have been forced to extinction by human activity.

Currently, more than 40,000 species are threatened with extinction. That’s 28% of all assessed species.

Extinction is not a remote possibility. For species in a critical situation, it could happen as soon as in the next ten years.

We must take action NOW in order to restore the species under threat and to prevent others from becoming endangered.

SOME GOOD NEWS……. 

We shouldn’t be discouraged from taking action because extinction is not inevitable. The good news from a number of conservation projects has shown us that endangered species can recover.

For example in 2020 the European Bison, Europe’s largest land mammal, officially came out of the endangered category thanks to conservation efforts. 

This is why we must continue to create campaigns which ultimately raises public awareness of the issues. We must also keep pressure on the authorities so that they too take action.

We must commit to these conservation projects, because after all Mother Nature needs all the help we can give her. 

Rambling in Pen thanks you for reading and hopes you will pass this article to your friends and family.

We leave you now with a tune from Katliene – Mother Earth.

Author: Michael W.