Monarch Importance

Is there a single cause to the decline of the monarch populations?

There is no one single reason for the decline in the monarch populations. There are multiple threats that all contribute to the decline. Habitat loss, climate change, disease, pesticides, predation, and other human activities all take part in the loss of monarchs. You can learn more about these issues on our Threats page.

Are monarchs the most important pollinator species?

It is difficult to identify which single pollinator species is the most important. Honeybees and native bees are responsible for the pollination of many of our agricultural crops, but many other pollinators play a role in pollinating both agricultural and wild plants. Pollinators as a whole are responsible for as many as 1 in 3 bites of food that we eat, and for sustaining our natural plant ecosystems. 

Monarchs are not the most efficient pollinator species, but they can and do pollinate some plants. Monarchs are considered a flagship species or a poster species for all pollinators. They are amazing, inspiring creatures that can engage people from all walks of life in conservation because of their charisma. Creating habitat for monarchs benefits to many other important pollinator species by providing nectar and host plants for more than monarchs. 

Why are monarchs important?

Monarchs are important for many reasons! They may not be as good of pollinators as bees, but they are what we call a flagship species for conservation. This means that monarchs are well-known and very likeable, so people are more likely to get involved in working to protect them. By promoting habitat restoration for monarchs, other pollinators and wildlife species are also benefiting. Milkweed is a great nectar source for pollinators and provides habitat and plant diversity in a number of different landscapes.

Is monarch habitat beneficial for more reasons than monarchs?

Yes! Diverse monarch habitat supports a wide range of wildlife. Because pollinator habitat overlaps with that of other animals, its conservation allows us to protect multiple species at once. It's even beneficial for humans! Here we share a few examples.

Why is it important that the monarch population is declining? Does the decrease of monarch butterflies have any consequences on any other species?

Conserving the monarch population is important for many reasons, from ecological reasons to educational and inspirational ones. 

First of all, monarchs are pollinators, and need the same habitats (native milkweed and other nectar flowers) as many other pollinators, and even other wildlife. Therefore, if monarchs are in trouble because they don't have enough habitat, then many of our other pollinators and wildlife that share their habitat are in trouble as well. Because they are so well known and their decline is easy to see, monarchs are like the proverbial 'canary in the coal mine' for pollinators. The declining monarch population parallels other declining pollinator populations, which in turn impacts human food systems. Similarly, monarchs and other pollinators are part of a natural food web and ecosystem. Providing enough habitat, like milkweed for monarchs, is essential in maintaining a balanced food web within the ecosystems that are critical in sustaining us.  

Secondly, monarchs have a unique migration which inspires interest in the natural world across the entire continent. The fact that these little insects that weigh no more than a paper clip, travel for thousands of miles to an unknown destination is a phenomenon that deserves protection for it's own sake, but also because it is an amazing way to teach the next generation about science and caring for the environment. If you've ever seen a monarch caterpillar pupate, or an adult emerge from it's chrysalis, you know how amazing their metamorphosis is too, and how excited kids and adults alike can become about it.

In order to reverse the monarch's decline for these important reasons, we need all hands on deck! Find out how you can Get Involved and take action for monarchs today. 
 

What is the "Monarch Highway"?

Branded as the "Monarch Highway," this is an initiative launched in 2015 to create a multi-state partnership bringing together state transportation agencies and other partners along Interstate-35 (I-35) to catalyze conservation actions along the corridor and its neighboring communities that enhance habitat and engage people. The I-35 corridor, or the "Monarch Highway," runs along the central flyway of the monarch migration in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Find more information about the Monarch Highway here.

This project aims to promote awareness of monarchs and other pollinators and assist individual state efforts to enhance vegetation management practices. The project hopes to serve as a national model for native pollinator habitat restoration along transportation byways through private sector and philanthropic enhancement of state and local activities. This idea builds upon the past success of the 1995 Prairie Passage Route Partnership formed by the state departments of transportation along I-35. A number of these states remain national leaders in roadside integrated vegetation management and prairie restoration. Reinvigorating the focus on the I-35 corridor will facilitate concentrated regional coordination and action to make a visible difference in working landscapes and communities along the corridor.

The idea for a "Monarch Highway" partnership came from a federal strategy to promote the health of honey bees and other pollinators released in 2015. The strategy called for the idea of a "Monarch Highway" along I-35 and directed the U.S. Department of Transportation to work with state departments of transportation to promote pollinator-friendly practices and corridors. Later in 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and U.S. Department of Transportation organized a summit of state transportation leaders to advance regional and statewide efforts to promote and improve pollinator habitats on transportation rights-of-way, including the "Monarch Highway."

In May 2016, the six states along I-35 signed an agreement establishing I-35 as the "Monarch Highway" and furthering their commitment to leverage transportation rights-of-ways for monarch and pollinator habitat while also developing a public outreach and awareness effort. The memorandum of agreement was signed during the AASHTO Board of Directors meeting in Des Moines. Signatories included FHWA Administrator Greg Nadeau and senior executives from Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The agreement establishes "a cooperative and coordinated effort to establish best practices and promote public awareness of the monarch butterfly and other pollinator conservation." The parties also will work together to develop a unified branding for I-35, informally naming it the "Monarch Highway."

Can milkweed plants growing in backyards across the U.S. make a difference?

Yes! Everyone’s habitat makes a difference, especially when there are many together that start to build a connected network of habitats. Planting milkweed in your garden or yard creates much needed habitat for monarchs in your area, and allows them to live and reproduce to create the next generation of monarchs. It also raises awareness in your community and encourages others to plant milkweed themselves, which is how we can spread the word and get even more habitat created. Visit www.plantmilkweed.org to get started with your yard or garden milkweed plants