Santa Cruz Standard

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) reintroduced the House version of the bicameral Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat (MONARCH) Act.  The legislation authored by Rep. Panetta, and co-led by Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24), would expand support for the preservation, protection, and restoration of natural habitats for the western monarch butterfly, a symbol for both California and the West Coast.  Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. 

The MONARCH Act would provide urgent protections for the struggling western monarch butterfly.  As an iconic and vital pollinator, the population of the western monarch declined by 99% since the 1980s, reaching a historic low of less than 2,000 monarch butterflies overwintering in central California in 2020.  Habitat destruction, the loss of milkweed, and prolific pesticide use are the largest drivers of monarch population decline.  While the recent 2022-2023 season saw a significant increase in monarchs, with close to 335,500 butterflies observed, more must be done.

“Although, my 19th Congressional District is home to numerous overwintering sites, we continue to experience a significant decrease in the population of the western monarch butterfly,” said Rep. Panetta.  “That’s why I authored this bill and will continue to lead the House effort to provide the necessary federal investments to restore their habitats and create a regional plan save the western monarch butterfly from extinction.  As someone who grew up on the Central Coast experiencing and appreciating the contributions of this essential pollinator to our agriculture and culture, I feel it is my responsibility as a federal representative to put forward this type of legislation that would help protect and perpetuate the western monarch butterfly.”

“I proudly represent two major monarch groves on the Central Coast of California: Pismo Beach and Goleta – both of which have been devastated by the dramatic drop off of monarch populations that we have seen over the past two decades.  That's why I worked with Congressman Panetta and my other colleagues in Congress to secure $10 million in our last federal budget to promote butterfly conservation,” said Rep. Carbajal.  “Renewing our push for the MONARCH Act in this Congress will allow us to build on those investments and ensure that the monarch butterfly habitats are protected for generations to come.”

“We've all experienced the moment of childhood joy and excitement when we spot a butterfly dancing in the air,” said Senator Merkley. “Though western monarch populations were already in peril, this year’s extreme winter storms have hit overwintering monarchs hard and made addressing this threat even more urgent.  Protecting monarch butterflies and other pollinators is a critical issue that requires sustainable solutions, and we must do everything we can to implement experts’ conservation plans and save these species before time runs out.”

The MONARCH Act would authorize $62.5 million for projects aimed at conserving the western monarch and an additional $62.5 million to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in January 2019.  The $62.5 million in funding for each effort would be divided into five annual installments of $12.5 million.

Additional co-sponsors of the MONARCH Act include; Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andre Carson (IN-07), Jim Costa (CA-21), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Scott Peters (CA-50), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and Mike Thompson (CA-04).

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Rep. Panetta worked alongside Members of Congress along the western monarch migration path to pass into law the Monarch Pollinator Highway Act.  The newly created program empowers state and local governments to restore the habitats of essential pollinators.  Reps. Panetta and Carbajal successfully fought for funding for this program and additional monarch conservation efforts in the most recent federal funding package passed at the end of 2022.

The MONARCH Act has been endorsed by; the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the National Wildlife Federation, and the Center for Biological Diversity.

“Monarch migration is one of the most spectacular shows on Earth, but unfortunately western monarch populations have declined by over 95%,” said Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  “The MONARCH Act will help provide the resources needed to recover western monarch populations so that our kids and grandkids can enjoy and delight in this migration for generations to come.”

“This bill will provide a lifeline for western monarch butterflies whose populations have declined dramatically due to pesticide use, climate change, and habitat loss,” said Dan Raichel, Director of the Pollinator Initiative at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).  “We need comprehensive conservation plans that help restore the milkweed and overwintering habitat monarchs depend on, or risk losing them forever in as little as two decades.  This legislation is an important part of ensuring future generations can continue witnessing one of wildlife’s most astounding migrations.”

“The Monarch Act is the perfect example of legislation that combines the power of public and private investment to safeguard the future of the western migratory monarch butterfly and native pollinators. Saving the migratory monarch transcends the political aisle and demands cooperation to ensure this iconic species thrives,” said Dr. Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón, chief monarch recovery strategist for the National Wildlife Federation. “We must act now to prevent further declines of native pollinators that are crucial to sustaining human food sources and maintaining the health of our ecosystems.  This bill will provide the resources that States and Tribal Nations need to conserve the western monarch and many other pollinators.  We thank Congressman Panetta for his leadership and for prioritizing the conservation of this awe-inspiring species.”

“We’re so grateful for the leadership of Reps. Panetta and Carbajal, who recognize the need for urgent action to save the western monarch butterfly,” said Stephanie Kurose, a senior policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity.  “These beautiful pollinators are trying to make a comeback, but this winter showed that it only takes one storm to wipe out half their population. America’s most iconic butterflies still desperately need help, and the MONARCH Act is their lifeline.”

“Pacific Grove knows we need to do more to sustain the Monarch Butterfly to preserve the benefits that this beautiful pollinator provides to our environment,” said Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Peake.  “Data has shown the Monarch has been under threat for decades.  Years ago in Pacific Grove, one of the Monarchs’ over-wintering sites on the Pacific coast, the community recognized that action needed to be taken.  Monarch habitat was purchased by the City so that this precious land would be preserved and welcoming to Monarchs for generations to come.  For Monarchs to survive, more must be accomplished throughout the extensive Monarch migration path.  Pacific Grove will continue to do its part and trust others will join us by supporting the MONARCH Act.”

“The MONARCH Act stands as a vital measure to protect the imperiled western monarch butterfly and allocate millions of dollars towards conservation initiatives,” said Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keely.  “The MONARCH Act serves as a crucial milestone in guaranteeing the survival of the iconic western monarch butterfly and fostering a sustainable future for California farmers and the American food supply.”

“Monarch butterflies are an important part of ecosystems - they pollinate flowers and are a food source for many insects and other animals and this ecosystem service has been reduced due to their declines over the past 25 years.  Conserving habitat through the MONARCH Act of 2021 would bring us one step closer to protecting important ecosystems for western monarchs, and ensuring the valuable ecosystem services the habitat and the species provide,” said A. Marm Kilpatrick, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz.

Original source can be found here