Monarch butterflies are stunningly gorgeous - draped in orange, black, and white, they are nature's works of art. They're also vitally important for the environment. As pollinators, they help make sure plants continue blooming and thriving - which affects many other species around them, including humans.
And for years, monarchs have been dying, and were even at risk of extinction.
Yet suddenly, we have a surprise success to share. Despite previous population declines, monarch butterflies have suddenly made an incredible rebound!
In only one year, their population jumped 64% in Mexico!This just proves we can prevent extinction, and that there is hope. Sign the petition to demand increased collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico on monarch conservation!Monarchs face a wide range of threats to their survival. These include
climate change, which is not only changing temperatures worldwide but also changing the timing of which plants bloom where and when - throwing off migration patterns for many insects and animals.
Pesticides are poisoning their plant food supplies, and therefore poisoning the butterflies, too. And
deforestation and logging has led to significant habitat loss.
Already in 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had listed the monarch butterfly as Endangered, placing it on the Red List of Threatened Species. Then, in 2024, monarchs suffered a
massive die-off due to pesticides. The huge death event prompted the Biden administration to consider listing the butterflies as threatened, giving them protections under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. But before they could follow through, Trump's team entered power. And they have flatly refused to protect monarchs.
However,
Mexico's government has made important strides forward in monarch conservation. That includes by combating illegal logging in order to preserve the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. And we can see that this approach has obviously been working!
It also proves that there is a lot we can do to help this "keystone" species! The U.S. and Mexico must vow to work together to expand their joint and individual conservation efforts, to build on this success! Sign the petition to protect monarch butterflies.