Ruling for Monarch Butterfly Protection Delayed For Several Years

The United States federal government has delayed the protection of the monarch butterfly and said that no action would be taken for several years. They said that there are other higher priority species across the country, 161 species to be exact, that are ahead of this butterfly species.

The once common sight in backyard gardens, meadows, and other landscapes is now deemed as "a candidate" for designation as endangered species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA Today reported.

"We conducted an intensive, thorough review using a rigorous, transparent science-based process and found that the monarch meets listing criteria under the Endangered Species Act," said Aurelia Skipwith, the director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. "However, before we can propose listing, we must focus resources on our higher-priority listing actions."

So, what will happen to the monarch butterfly now?

Delayed Ruling Means Delayed Protection

The delay in putting the monarch butterfly under the designation of endangered species could cause a disaster for the beloved orange and black butterfly, environmentalists warned.

Sarina Jepsen, director of endangered species at the Xerces Society conservation group, said that although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agrees that the monarch butterfly is facing the possibility of extinction, this does not give the butterflies any protection, especially in the West who desperately need to recover.

Charlie Wooley, head of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Lakes regional office, said that the status of monarch butterfly would be reviewed every year. Even though the monarch butterfly is not listed under the federal designation, he said that emergency actions might be taken earlier.

They plan to propose the monarch butterfly to be under the Endangered Species Act in 2024, unless their situation improves which renders the step unnecessary, according to Miami Herald's report.

Moreover, a year of public comment and the development of a final rule will follow the said proposal before it could successfully be under the federal designation.

Being under the Endangered Species Act would provide several protections for the monarch butterfly, such as but not limited to federal governments seeking approval first from the Fish and Wildlife Service to consider the safety of the monarch butterfly or its habitat before the approval of highway constructions and other potentially damaging projects of the government.

Scientists to Continue Monitoring Population of Monarch Butterfly

Despite not getting the federal designation as endangered species, scientists and conservationists have vowed to continue monitoring the population of the monarch butterfly and the effectiveness of the widespread grassroots campaign to save the butterflies.

The designation of the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act was first proposed in 2014 by school groups, garden clubs, government agencies, and conservation groups concerned about the declining population of the monarch butterfly since the 1980s.

Besides the monarch butterflies, the Great Lakes office is also considering nine other species with higher priority status to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation groups have said that 47 species have already gone extinct while waiting to be listed. They hope that the monarch butterfly will get its federal designation as soon as possible.