New Report: Conservation Priorities for Western Monarchs in California
The California Multi-Agency Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative, a working group comprised of 13 state and federal partner agencies, has published a new report highlighting actions that can support monarch butterflies in California. To develop the report, partners reviewed the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ 50-year monarch conservation plan (see the recently published update) and the Western Monarch Summit Priorities. The ‘Conservation Priorities for Western Monarchs in California’ report can be used by agencies, researchers, land managers, and other interested parties as a roadmap for monarch conservation in the state. Read the full report here.
Collaborative Mission and Members
The California Multi-Agency Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative was created to inform and promote integrated science, natural resource management, and policy to increase the pace and scale of monarch and pollinator conservation throughout California. Current members include: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Coastal Commission, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Department of Transportation, Wildlife Conservation Board, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Monarch Butterfly Decline
Historically, millions of monarchs gathered in reproductive diapause in groves of trees along the west coast spanning from Mendocino County, California, to Baja California, Mexico. Western migratory monarch butterfly overwintering counts have declined precipitously in recent decades, with counts in three of the past five years reaching record lows (for more information see the Xerces Society’s Western Monarch Count website).
In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing monarchs as a threatened species with designated critical habitat in California’s overwintering grounds. Recognizing the precarious state of their population, western migratory monarchs are also on CDFW’s Terrestrial and Vernal Pool Invertebrates of Conservation Priority List and recognized as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the California State Wildlife Action Plan.
Importance of Monarch Butterflies
Healthy monarch populations enhance ecosystems by providing pollination services, providing food for birds and small animals, and contributing to California’s biodiversity. Monarchs are also cultural icons and educational ambassadors, helping children learn about natural phenomena including long-distance migration, mimicry, chemical protection, and metamorphosis. As a widespread, formerly abundant species, monarchs are emblematic of the decline of a wide array of pollinator species. Increasing resources for monarchs can support other pollinators, ecosystems, and wildlife. For more information on monarchs and pollinators, see the CDFW monarch and pollinator pages.
Resources
Collaborative partners compiled monarch-focused resources (see below). If you’d like to recommend a resource to add to this collection, email wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov.