Proposed Monarch Listing Information
The USFWS announced a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, accompanied by a 4(d) rule and critical habitat designation. This proposed rule does not immediately list the monarch under the ESA but marks a significant step in the decision-making process for its protection.
You can read the December 2024 announcement from the USFWS here.
A detailed history of the history of the Monarch Butterfly listing can be found at the Monarch Joint Venture site. This is a great history of how the proposal began and why we are here today.
You can also visit the USFWS and get more information about their proposed listing decision.
Key Documents from Regulations.gov:
Download the USFWS Proposed Rule here. (.pdf/55 pages)
Download the full USFWS Species Status Assessment Report from December 2024 here. (.pdf / 160pg)
Information Requested by USFWS:
The Service labels insecticide as a threat to monarchs, including the use of insecticides for vector control. And that non-migratory monarchs in many states are specifically vulnerable.
From the Proposal, USFWS is requesting comments and specific information concerning:
(1) The species’ biology, range, and population trends
(2) Threats and conservation actions affecting the species
(3) Additional information concerning the historical and current status of this species.
(4) Information to assist us with applying or issuing protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act that may be necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the monarch butterfly. In particular, we seek information concerning:
(d) Whether we should include an exception for the use of pesticides and, if so, what measures are reasonable, feasible, and adequate to reduce or offset pesticide exposure to monarchs from agricultural and non-agricultural uses (e.g., rangeland, rights-of-way, forestry, commercial areas, and mosquito control), including measures for specific classes of pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides), pesticide uses, and application methods.
(5) Specific information related to critical habitat
(6) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the subject areas and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat.
(7) Any probable economic, national security, or other relevant impacts of designating any area that may be included in the final designation, and the related benefits of including or excluding specific areas.
(8) Information on the extent to which the description of probable economic impacts in the economic analysis is a reasonable estimate of the likely economic impacts and any additional information regarding probable economic impacts that we should consider.
(9) Whether any specific areas we are proposing for critical habitat designation should be considered for exclusion under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, and whether the benefits of potentially excluding any specific area outweigh the benefits of including that area. If you think we should exclude any additional areas, please provide information supporting a benefit of exclusion.
(10) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and comments.
