2021 monarch conservation implementation plan...monarch conservation targets and preserve the...

Prepared by MONARCH JOINT VENTURE

2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan

2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 1

Contents Introduction to the Implementation Plan ........................................................................... 2

Population Status ................................................................................................................ 3

National Monarch Conservation Targets ............................................................................ 4

National Milestones, Goals, and Priorities .......................................................................... 5

Plan Priorities ....................................................................................................................... 5

How to Use This Plan ........................................................................................................... 6

Tracking Metrics and Instructions ....................................................................................... 8

Background Information on Program Areas ....................................................................... 9

Section I: Habitat .............................................................................................. 11 Habitat Goals .................................................................................................................. 11

Key Principles ................................................................................................................. 11

Habitat Goals and Action Strategies .............................................................................. 12

Section II: Education ........................................................................................ 17 Education Goals ............................................................................................................ 17

Key Principles ................................................................................................................. 17

Education Goals and Action Strategies .......................................................................... 18

Section III: Research ......................................................................................... 20 Research Goals ............................................................................................................... 20

Key Principles ................................................................................................................. 20

Research Goals and Action Strategies ........................................................................... 21

Section IV: Partnership .................................................................................... 23 Partnership Goals ........................................................................................................... 23

Key Principles ................................................................................................................. 23

Partnership Goals and Action Strategies ....................................................................... 24

References ......................................................................................................................... 26


Introduction to the Implementation Plan

The Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. We coordinate a network

of over 100 partners across the U.S. who are committed to the conservation of monarch

butterflies and their habitats. Our mission is to protect monarchs and their migration by

collaborating with partners to deliver habitat conservation, education, and science across the

United States. Our vision is thriving monarch populations that sustain the monarch migration

into perpetuity and serve as a flagship for the conservation of other plants and animals.

The Monarch Joint Venture was formed in 2008 to uphold the United States priorities in the

North American Monarch Conservation Plan (NAMCP) (Commission for Environmental

Cooperation, 2008). The Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan is maintained by the MJV

partnership as a more detailed guiding document for United States stakeholders to carry out

the objectives in the NAMCP. It was originally developed by MJV staff and has been routinely

updated with input and guidance from the MJV advisory committee and partners.

It will take widespread participation and collaboration among all sectors to reach our nation’s

monarch conservation targets and preserve the monarch migration for generations to come.

This plan is intended to provide direction for any individual or entity involved in or planning for

monarch conservation work. The key principles, goals, and action strategies serve as an

important starting point for monarch conservation partners to prioritize and organize their

internal strategies for this work. These high-level strategies should be further developed at the

individual, program, or organizational level - with measurable goals, evaluation, and specific

details about relevant partnership opportunities, existing resources, or needs.

The sections of the plan are organized around the four pillars of MJV work:

1. Habitat Conservation

2. Education and Outreach

3. Research and Monitoring

4. Partnerships

MJV has dedicated staff working in each of these program areas who are available to assist you

in developing your internal goals, strategies, and actions. Learn more about our staff and how

to contact them on our website monarchjointventure.org.

Monarch conservation is growing as a part of a larger pollinator conservation movement.

Monarchs are a flagship species for pollinators, grassland, wildlife and environmental

conservation and sustainability. The actions outlined in this plan are designed with monarchs in

mind, but also provide great benefits for many other resource concerns.

https://monarchjointventure.org/about-us/contact-us


Population Status

Image 1: Graph of eastern monarch population numbers from overwintering sites in Mexico from 1993 – 2020.

Source: Data from 1993-2003 collected by personnel of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) of the

National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) in Mexico. Data from 2004-2020 collected by the WWF-

Telcel Alliance, in coordination with the Directorate of the MBBR. Data from 2000-01 reported by Garcia-Serrano et

al., 2004. Graph created by the Monarch Joint Venture.

Image 2: Graph of western monarch population numbers from overwintering sites from 1997 – 2019.

Source: Data collected from the Xerces Society’s annual Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count. Graph created by

the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.


National Monarch Conservation Targets

Image 3: Map of monarch butterfly conservation units outlined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Eastern Population Targets: • Reach and maintain an area of 6 hectares of forest in Mexico occupied by overwintering

monarchs by 2020 (Pollinator Health Task Force, 2015).

• Add a minimum of 1.3 billion milkweed stems and abundant nectar resources

distributed throughout the North Core monarch breeding area (Midwest Association of

Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2018; Pleasants, 2017; Thogmartin et al., 2017).

• The restoration and enhancement of at least 7 million acres of pollinator friendly habitat

nationally (Pollinator Health Task Force, 2015).

• State milkweed density targets can be found in the Mid-America Monarch Conservation

Strategy (Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2018).

Western Population Targets: The Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan (Western Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies, 2019) outlines the following short-term objectives to be reached by 2029:

• Achieve a 5-year running average of 500,000 butterflies counted at 75 sites, with the

highest counts during the Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count.

• Create an additional 50,000 acres of monarch-friendly habitat in California’s Central

Valley and adjacent foothills.

• Establish protection and management for 50% of all currently known and active

monarch overwintering sites, including 90% of the most important overwintering sites.

North

Core

https://www.usgs.gov/news/billions-more-milkweeds-needed-restore-monarchshttp://rightofway.erc.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/MAMCS_June2018_Final.pdfhttp://rightofway.erc.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/MAMCS_June2018_Final.pdfhttps://www.wafwa.org/Documents%20and%20Settings/37/Site%20Documents/Committees/Monarch/Western%20Monarch%20Butterfly%20Conservation%20Plan%202019-2069.pdf


National Milestones, Goals, and Priorities

Several key milestones have led to the robust development of monarch conservation. Monarch

researchers, community science programs, and other conservation groups have been actively

working on monarch conservation for decades, with many early programs beginning in the

1990s. Below are more recent highlights:

• In 2008, the North American Monarch Conservation Plan (Commission for

Environmental Cooperation, 2008) was released, and the Monarch Joint Venture was

formed.

• 2014 brought a few important milestones, including a petition issued to the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service to consider monarchs for listing, as well as a Presidential

Memorandum that included provisions specifically for monarch butterflies.

• In 2015, the U.S. government published a National Strategy to Promote the Health of

Honey Bees and Other Pollinators that affirmed the commitment of federal agencies to

monarch conservation (Pollinator Health Task Force).

• In 2017, several key research milestones were published through efforts of the Monarch

Conservation Science Partnership that were critical in informing conservation strategies

and targets, including the “all hands on deck” model developed by Thogmartin et al.

(2017).

• In December 2020, a proposed listing decision about whether monarchs warrant listing

under the Endangered Species Act is due.

These developments continue to drive monarch conservation efforts forward by engaging

broader interest and participation to recover both the eastern and western North American

monarch populations.

Plan Priorities Include:

• Monarch habitat conservation on public and private lands, including the enhancement

and improved management of milkweed and nectar resources throughout the monarch

range

• Education and outreach to increase interest, awareness, and engagement in monarch

conservation.

• Research on and monitoring of monarchs and their habitats to inform conservation

work.

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/Pollinator%20Health%20Strategy%202015.pdfhttps://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/Pollinator%20Health%20Strategy%202015.pdfhttps://www.umesc.usgs.gov/management/dss/monarch.htmlhttps://www.umesc.usgs.gov/management/dss/monarch.html


• Building partnerships and collaboration to advance monarch conservation across the

United States.

• Embracing the “all hands on deck” approach to monarch conservation by engaging a

diverse group of stakeholders to participate.

• In the west, the Western Monarch Call to Action developed by the Xerces Society (2020)

identifies five priorities for recovering the western population:

1. Protect and manage California overwintering sites.

2. Restore breeding and migratory habitat in California.

3. Protect monarchs and their habitat from pesticides.

4. Protect, manage, and restore summer breeding and fall migration monarch

habitat outside of California.

5. Answer key research questions about how to best aid western monarch

recovery.

How to Use This Plan

Intended Audience: The Plan is intended for use by any individual or entity implementing or

funding monarch conservation activities (including, but not exclusive to, MJV partners) as a

guiding document for the most important U.S. monarch conservation actions.

Navigating the Plan: The Plan is separated into different sections based on the four pillars of

monarch conservation work: habitat, education, research, and partnership. Depending on your

areas of interest, you can skip to different sections to find the goals and action strategies that

are most relevant to you or your organization’s work.

Key Principles: Each section contains key principles that are important reminders or

considerations that apply to that area of work. These are best practices to keep in mind as you

are planning your monarch conservation efforts.

Goals and Action Strategies: These items are intended to give some level of specificity to help

guide your work but are not necessarily prescriptive for how you should go about it. The Plan

identifies research questions, or types of educational activities, but does not describe how to go

about those activities. Once you have identified the action strategies that are relevant to you or

your organization, we encourage you to engage with MJV program staff in those areas to

further define what that means for your organization and to determine the step-by-step actions

you can take to begin implementing them.

https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/19-001_02.pdf


Considerations for Establishing Priorities: The actions outlined in this Plan are all important for

monarch conservation. We recognize that individual or organizational priorities may vary

depending on your areas of focus or expertise. Therefore, this plan does not establish priorities

relative to one-another. We encourage you to establish priorities in your customized monarch

conservation plans or strategies, and to engage MJV staff to advise you on priority setting.

Finding Appropriate Informational Resources, Literature, or Other Supporting Documents:

Many MJV and partner resources can be found on our website at

www.monarchjointventure.org. We encourage you to search the site for any informational

needs you have. For monarch literature, Monarch Net maintains a searchable library of all

monarch publications that may help you find scientific information you are seeking.

MJV Partner Portal: This Plan is intended to be used in conjunction with the MJV Partner Portal

(but is not required), an online, password protected database for monarch conservation

partners to explore partnership contacts and activities. The portal is structured in alignment

with the Implementation Plan to help track activity according to the items included in the Plan.

In addition to providing an interface that facilitates connections between monarch conservation

partners, this database will help the MJV partnership develop strategies for ensuring all actions

in the Implementation Plan are being pursued. Partner reports will help with organizational

tracking of monarch conservation accomplishments and support the monarch conservation

community in understanding our collective progress in reaching community goals.

Considerations for Geographic Scope of the Plan: Recognizing that three North American

countries— Canada, Mexico and the U.S. — are responsible for different elements of monarch

conservation, this plan focuses on actions that are to be conducted in the U.S., or for which the

U.S. plays some role. Where relevant, western monarch conservation action strategies are

indicated with the appropriate language.

Other Considerations: The letters preceding the strategies (H, E, R, and P) refer to the priorities

they fall into. These include Habitat (H), Education (E), Research (R), and Partnerships

(P). Habitat for monarchs, whenever mentioned in the plan, refers to areas that include both

milkweed and nectar sources. The use of habitat also implies use by monarchs, other

pollinators, and other wildlife throughout the document.

For more information on the Implementation Plan, the MJV Partner Portal, or how to become an

MJV partner, please contact Christine Sanderson: [email protected]

http://www.monarchjointventure.org/https://www.monarchnet.org/libraryhttps://monarchjointventure.org/mjvmem/loginhttps://monarchjointventure.org/mjvmem/loginmailto:[email protected]


Tracking Metrics and Instructions

The following summary metrics are used by the MJV to track and compile efforts across the

monarch community working to implement actions identified in the Plan. The metrics may or

may not be relevant to your work, so pick and choose ones that are most appropriate. MJV

partners are asked to enter and track their efforts in the MJV Partner Portal.

These metrics are also consistent with other common reporting platforms, like the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service’s Monarch Conservation Database, or the National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation’s Monarch and Pollinators Conservation Fund. We encourage MJV partners to enter

summary metrics into the MJV Partner Portal in addition to their use of platforms that require

more detailed information.

• Acres restored

• Acres under improved management

• Total number of acres managed (new, maintained, and improved)

• Milkweed: pounds of seeds harvested

• Milkweed: number of seedlings propagated

• Workshops-webinars-meetings held

• Organizations reached

• Individuals reached in-person

• Virtual followers or participants

• Volunteers engaged

• Quantity of informational material distributed

• Conservation plans developed

• Outreach materials developed

• States impacted

• Municipalities impacted

• Audiences impacted

• Monarch staff positions maintained (FTE equivalent, with focus areas)

• Annual budget for monarch work

• Annual amount of monarch funding distributed

https://monarchjointventure.org/mjvmem/loginhttps://www.nfwf.org/programs/monarch-butterfly-and-pollinators-conservation-fundhttps://www.nfwf.org/programs/monarch-butterfly-and-pollinators-conservation-fund


Background Information on Program Areas Monarch Habitat Conservation, Maintenance, and Enhancement

There is strong evidence that the primary threat to monarchs in the eastern U.S. is the

widespread loss of breeding habitat (Pleasants & Oberhauser, 2012; Pleasants, 2015), including

milkweed host plants (primarily plants of the genus Asclepias). Additional research shows

eastern monarchs also face threats during migration (Kantola et al., 2019; Tracy et al., 2019).

For both eastern and western populations, the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of

breeding and migratory habitats are critical; these habitats contain native milkweeds and

nectar plants.

In the eastern range, the North Central region (i.e. “Corn Belt”) and the South-Central region

are important areas for monarch reproduction and migration. The Corn Belt region has

historically produced a high percentage of the monarchs that migrate to overwintering grounds

in Mexico each fall (Oberhauser et al., 2001; Wassenaar & Hobson, 1998). The South-Central

region plays a significant role in supporting both the spring and fall migrations (Flockhart et al.,

2013; Flockhart et al., 2017; Miller et al., 2012). However, studies have concluded that we need

an approach that engages “all hands” and “all regions” to most effectively support the eastern

population (Flockhart et al., 2017; Oberhauser et al., 2017; Thogmartin et al., 2017).

In the western U.S., conservation strategies focus on identifying, protecting, and enhancing

breeding and migration habitat. The Central Valley and foothills in California have been

prioritized as important breeding areas for monarchs, and an area in which habitat restoration

and conservation is essential (Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2019).

Education to Enhance Awareness of Monarch Conservation Issues and Opportunities

The monarch migration is one of the most magnificent migrations in the world. Many different

issues are connected to monarch conservation, ranging from wildlife conservation to land

productivity, and from water quality to human health and learning. Because of this, monarchs

are an excellent flagship species for the conservation movement. Monarchs inspire people to

engage in conservation by creating, restoring, and managing habitat beneficial to a wide variety

of organisms and issues.

Education and outreach are necessary for successful conservation. We must widely

communicate clear, consistent, accessible, and science-based information promoting collective

action to restore and manage habitat for monarchs and other pollinators. Raising awareness

and educating stakeholders about monarchs, their importance, and ways to get involved, are

essential for engaging “all hands on deck” to reach our conservation goals.


Research and Monitoring to Inform Monarch Conservation Efforts

Research and monitoring help us understand many aspects of monarch conservation, including

biology, population trends, and habitat quality and availability. The Monarch Conservation

Science Partnership (MCSP) formed in 2014, is a consortium of scientists and conservation

professionals from government, academia and NGOs working to better understand threats to

monarch populations at the landscape level, model population trends, and develop

conservation tools.

The MCSP designed the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) to monitor monarch

butterflies and their habitats to inform conservation at all scales. The IMMP provides data to

update habitat and population models and to assess the effectiveness of conservation

practices. MJV leads implementation of the IMMP, supporting engagement of conservation

partners and community scientists across the U.S.

Community scientists have contributed greatly to our understanding of monarch biology and

ecology, and they continue to be a driving force in monarch conservation today. These

volunteers, young and old, not only help researchers and conservationists understand monarch

populations and habitat distribution but also become invested in the conservation of monarchs

beyond their monitoring activities (Lewandowski & Oberhauser, 2016).

Partnerships and Collaboration to Advance Monarch Conservation

Engaging partners across the monarch breeding and migratory range is critical to supporting

overall recovery. To reach our nation’s ambitious targets, commitment from a diverse set of

stakeholders is required. It is important to recruit, educate, and inspire a broad spectrum of

individuals and entities across North America to act. Highlighting that monarch conservation

will have cascading benefits is an important way to get “all hands on deck” for monarchs.

Integrating partnership building and collaboration into each of the above priorities is necessary

for habitat conservation, education and outreach, and research and monitoring efforts to be

successful and maintained long-term. Collaborative work promotes efficiency, reduces

redundancy, and provides opportunities to bring in stakeholders that do not focus specifically

on monarchs, but on the other species and issues connected to monarch conservation.

To facilitate a coordinated and collaborative approach to monarch conservation across the U.S.,

the MJV engages partners through planning and networking, fostering collaboration, providing

guidance, and disseminating information. Partners are key agents, actively engaging in monarch

conservation work aligned with the priorities of the Implementation Plan, sharing information

freely, seeking out and leveraging existing resources, and promoting the work of others.


Section I: Habitat

Habitat Goals

The following are the seven goals for monarch and pollinator habitat conservation included in

the 2021 Implementation Plan. Below you will find related action strategies for each goal. These

action strategies are suggested pathways to help us collectively reach these goals. We

encourage you to select and tailor habitat actions based on the specific needs and realities of

your community, geographic location, and expertise.

H1: Improve information for habitat efforts across all land use types.

H2: Increase education and outreach to increase habitat establishment.

H3: Advance research to improve the effectiveness of habitat conservation efforts.

H4: Enhance funding and partnerships for habitat work.

H5: Improve supply chain for regionally appropriate milkweed and nectar resources.

H6: Improve protection, monitoring, restoration, and management of overwintering

habitats in the U.S.

H7: Improve habitat tracking.

Key Principles

The following are key principles within monarch habitat conservation. While they may not be

specifically outlined in the Implementation Plan, they are considered best practices and should

be integrated into all applicable conservation efforts.

• Apply integrated pest management (IPM), integrated vegetation management (IVM),

and adaptive management principles to all habitat projects.

• Aim for high species richness, abundance, and diversity of plants throughout the

growing season.

• Include native milkweeds as monarch host plants.

• Prioritize habitat locations with low risk of anthropogenic threats.

• Utilize conservation planning and habitat management tracking for all habitat projects.


Habitat Goals and Action Strategies

H1: Improve information for habitat efforts across all land use types.

a. Maintain lists of regionally appropriate, pesticide-free sources of milkweed and nectar

plant materials.

b. Streamline regional and sector-based guidelines and best management practices (BMPs)

for habitat creation, enhancement, and maintenance.

c. Increase accessibility of relevant incentive programs to support pollinator habitat

development.

d. Increase awareness about and demand for the use of native, local ecotype, pesticide

free plants and seeds.

e. Inspire new habitat efforts by sharing pollinator habitat success stories.

f. Articulate the multiple benefits of monarch habitat to engage diverse stakeholders.

g. Develop or refine languages to correct the misperceptions around milkweed, including

its toxicity and perceived weediness.

h. Provide information for high-level decision makers that enables them to confidently

support policies surrounding pollinator habitat.

i. Provide customizable templates for habitat demonstration events and site conservation

plans.

j. Provide guidance on creating habitat from scratch and enhancing existing habitat.

H2: Increase education and outreach to increase habitat establishment.

a. Create pollinator demonstration habitats to be utilized for research, education, and

community engagement.

b. Include interpretive displays or signs to increase learning opportunities near habitat

projects.

c. Prioritize high-visibility areas for habitat work to increase educational opportunities.

d. Create customized training programs to encourage organizations to maintain long-term

pollinator habitat efforts.

e. Advocate and educate to remove native plants from noxious weed lists, restricted plant

lists, and local ordinances that restrict their use.

f. Provide continuing education opportunities for landowner consultants and plant

material providers to improve technical expertise.


H3: Advance research to improve effectiveness of habitat conservation efforts.

Habitat Placement & Distribution

a. Develop recommendations for targeting habitat placement, taking into consideration

potential for pesticide exposure or other threats.

b. Update current milkweed distribution by species and native range to guide the selection

of appropriate species for habitat development.

c. Estimate existing habitat available in different landscapes and land-use sectors.

d. Identify the most effective spatial distribution of habitat by region to maximize

reproduction.

e. Determine how habitat quality affects monarch recruitment, reproduction, and

survival.

f. Obtain current data to update milkweed density estimates in Thogmartin et al. (2017).

g. Identify natural factors that limit milkweed distribution, including barriers to natural

colonization.

h. Model habitat suitability by region and sector.

Policy

i. Investigate pollinator habitat-related policies, standards, practices and associated

outcomes.

j. Make science-based recommendations to enhance Farm Bill and NRCS Conservation

Practice Standards for pollinator habitat.

k. Develop cost-benefit analyses for both initial planting and modified maintenance of

habitat to support organizational decision-making.

Plant Materials

l. Assess commercial availability of native, regionally sourced milkweed and nectar plant

seeds and plugs.

m. Develop or refine best practices for milkweed and nectar plant propagation.

n. Make recommendations for regionally appropriate milkweed and nectar plant species

optimal for monarchs.

o. Determine the effects of using plugs vs. seeds by region and species.

Social Science

p. Use social research to assess best methods and mediums for audience-specific

engagement.

q. Use social research and program evaluation to assess adoption of conservation practices

and habitat creation.

Habitat Conservation Effectiveness

r. Contribute site assessment data to existing monitoring or tracking efforts.

s. Improve best management practices for seed mix design, planting, and ongoing

management to maximize habitat establishment and longevity.


t. Define optimal milkweed density targets to maximize reproductive potential of sites.

u. Investigate practices for enhancing existing habitat.

v. Assess impacts of invasive plant species on monarch habitat.

Co-Benefits of Monarch Habitat

w. Document and study use of monarch habitat by other beneficial species at patch and

landscape scale.

x. Document and study the impacts of monarch habitat on ecological biodiversity at patch

and landscape scale.

y. Document and study the impacts of monarch habitat on water and soil quality.

H4: Enhance funding and partnerships for habitat work.

a. Expand financial resources for habitat establishment and maintenance by connecting

monarch efforts to other resource concerns with compatible objectives.

b. Develop new or enhance cost-saving strategies to incentivize pollinator habitat.

c. Develop and advocate for legislation that provides financial support or cost-sharing for

pollinator habitat.

d. Expand resources for plant material development and research.

e. Offer increased financial or cost-share incentives for use of high-quality, high-diversity

seed mixes.

f. Increase awareness of and investment in habitat projects by surrounding communities

and businesses.

H5: Improve supply chain for regionally appropriate milkweed and nectar

resources.

a. Expand the production of milkweed and nectar plant seeds and plugs.

b. Facilitate the sustainable collection of wild, native, local ecotype seeds.

c. Work directly with seed producers and associations to influence species selection,

production, and marketing.


H6: Improve protection, monitoring, restoration, and management of

overwintering habitats in the U.S.

a. Routinely assess habitat conditions at overwintering sites.

b. Develop technical guidelines and conservation plans for adaptive, site-specific

management and conservation of overwintering sites.

c. Engage stakeholders to obtain meaningful legal protections or incentives for protecting

overwintering sites in California.

d. Leverage new information to establish priority sites for restoration or enhancement of

overwintering areas.

e. Define metrics to assess the effectiveness of overwintering site management and

restoration.

H7: Improve habitat tracking.

a. Develop strategies for coordinated state efforts to document progress toward state-

level goals and objectives.

b. Integrate habitat reporting with the Monarch Conservation Database (U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 2020) and Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (Cariveau et al.,

2019; Monarch Joint Venture, 2020).

c. Continuously update habitat project records, including planting and management

activities.

d. Track habitat efforts intended for other species, but that offer additional benefits to

monarchs.

e. Develop field-based tools (i.e. mobile-friendly) to streamline habitat mapping and

tracking.

H8: Employ additional sector-specific strategies for habitat implementation.

Public

a. Promote management on idle public lands to increase habitat diversity and profitability.

b. Utilize citizen advisory committees to advance pollinator-friendly policies for habitat on

public lands.

Agricultural

c. Promote voluntary pollinator-friendly habitat installation and management on and near

working lands.

https://www.fws.gov/savethemonarch/MCD.htmlhttps://monarchjointventure.org/images/uploads/documents/IMMP_Guidebook_V3_2020.pdf


d. Identify and promote existing and potential agricultural production systems compatible

with monarch habitat.

e. Identify and work with agricultural stakeholders to integrate monarch conservation into

their sustainability goals.

f. Leverage grower and commodity groups to promote conservation messaging and action

among farmers.

g. Better document and promote the benefits of habitat improvement for farm

operations.

h. Train farm and habitat technical assistance providers on precision agriculture to engage

producers in pollinator habitat restoration on low-production working lands.

i. Advocate for expanded state seeding specifications to include a broader list of available

forbs for use in conservation program seed mixes.

j. Maintain the Farmers for Monarchs website as an information center for agricultural

habitat resources.

k. Use IPM to minimize harm to beneficial insects on farms and in adjacent landscapes.

Energy and Transportation (Right-Of-Way (ROW))

l. Maximize habitat efforts in areas where regular mowing might otherwise occur.

m. Consider high visibility areas like rest areas to promote pollinator-habitat efforts.

n. Utilize IVM to enhance existing habitat on ROW lands.

o. Use the Geospatial Habitat Database to track ROW habitat conservation efforts

(University of Illinois Energy Resources Center, 2020).

Urban/Municipal

p. Collaborate with partners on urban farming and pollinator garden projects in densely

populated areas.

q. Engage neighborhoods, communities, and districts in creating pollinator habitat

networks.

r. Engage social science and policy professionals to help change laws and ordinances that

prohibit native plant habitat in municipal areas.

http://rightofway.erc.uic.edu/?page_id=3379


Section II: Education

Education Goals

The following are the five goals for monarch and pollinator education included in the 2021

Implementation Plan. Below you will find related action strategies for each goal. These action

strategies are suggested pathways to help us collectively reach these goals. We encourage you

to select and tailor education actions based on the specific needs and realities of your

community, geographic location, and expertise.

E1: Improve educational information to increase engagement in monarch and pollinator

conservation.

E2: Advance research and research communications to improve the effectiveness of

education efforts.

E3: Promote audience-specific strategies for monarch and pollinator conservation

education.

E4: Develop toolkits and customizable templates for easy and consistent communication.

E5: Expand monarch and pollinator conservation outreach at conferences and meetings.

Key Principles

The following are key principles of monarch and pollinator education. While they may not be


be integrated into all applicable education efforts.

• Leverage Monarch Joint Venture as an information clearinghouse for monarch

conservation in the U.S.

• Utilize existing education resources that meet your needs.

• Share useful education resources from your organization, partners, and other

stakeholders.

• When it makes sense, seek out collaborative opportunities to create and share new

education resources.

• Engage expert review and multiple perspectives on new informational materials.


Education Goals and Action Strategies

E1: Improve educational information to increase engagement in monarch and

pollinator conservation.

a. Ensure informational materials are available in multiple languages relevant to North

American audiences.

b. Keep messaging up to date and easily accessible, with regional specifications or

considerations.

c. Ensure informational materials are tailored and appropriate for the intended audience.

d. Develop a system for routinely disseminating updated information to appropriate

audiences.

e. Improve virtual resources for monarch conservation education and engagement.

f. Improve existing curricula or educational activities, applying current standards and

integrating monarch and pollinator education into existing STEAM core curricula.

E2: Advance research and research communications to improve the

effectiveness of education efforts.

a. Disseminate key takeaways and plain language summaries of relevant scientific studies,

including those that use community science data.

b. Evaluate the outcomes of audience-specific approaches and messaging to inform future

engagement strategies.

c. Implement standardized evaluations of educational events to assess and improve

engagement.

d. Promote participation in the multitude of existing community science programs to

enhance data sets.

E3: Promote audience-specific strategies for monarch and pollinator

conservation education.

a. Conduct youth outreach to inspire future generations of conservationists.

b. Include decision makers of all levels in opportunities to engage in conservation.

c. Foster local champions by engaging all types of community members in cooperative,

inclusive relationships.

d. Encourage distribution of information through media channels including press releases,

interviews, social media, etc.


e. Host, participate in, or support public educational events and celebrations.

f. Use a train-the-trainer model to equip educators, instructors, managers, and others to

share conservation information.

g. Conduct community science training to recruit and inform new volunteers and refresh

the knowledge of existing volunteers.

E4: Develop toolkits and customizable templates for easy and consistent

communication.

a. Share campaigns, resources, messaging, and strategies tailored to different audiences;

model them for replication or adaptation by others.

b. Develop “how-to” templates or toolkits for common educational activities and

strategies.

c. Develop training programs or professional development workshops for professionals

and volunteers.

E5: Expand monarch and pollinator conservation outreach at conferences and

meetings.

a. Grow the diversity of stakeholders present and participating in conferences and

meetings.

b. Engage with different stakeholders by participating in stakeholder-hosted events.

c. Maintain an inventory of events, meetings, or other opportunities to engage with

diverse audiences.

d. Build a searchable resource of local educators to increase outreach capacity.


Section III: Research

Research Goals

The following are the five goals for monarch and pollinator research included in the 2021



to select and tailor research actions based on the specific expertise, needs, and realities of your

community and geographic location.

R1: Document the current status and trends of monarch populations and available habitat.

R2: Understand factors that influence breeding and migration.

R3: Assess the effects of threats and stressors on monarchs and habitat.

R4: Evaluate the effectiveness of habitat conservation efforts.

R5: Leverage social science techniques to understand drivers and barriers for different

audiences to engage with monarch conservation.

Key Principles

The following are key principles of monarch and pollinator research. While they may not be


be integrated into all applicable research efforts.

• Work towards the coordination, standardization, and validation of existing monarch

habitat assessment and evaluation tools.

• Use standard monitoring protocols and existing community science programs when

conducting research and conservation planning.

• Share research findings with relevant audiences.

• Provide science-based recommendations for monarch and habitat conservation to land

managers and decision-makers.

• Leverage research on species with similar habitat needs or life histories to advance

monarch research objectives.

• Protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data.

• Acknowledge data, analytical, or peer-review contributions from all involved in research.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18dlqPs3PhxdFy9Hf7c1jSn5hyyjHuk0LdN0c1sLFtms/edit?ts=5f3c07dc#heading=h.lkpl9flkfwh6


Research Goals and Action Strategies

R1: Document the current status and trends of monarch populations and

available habitat.

a. Utilize the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (Monarch Joint Venture, 2020) or

other community science programs to collect habitat and monarch use data for

landscape scale analyses.

b. Update population viability, habitat, threats, and demographic models that inform

conservation targets.

c. Document and map potential and known breeding locations across the range, especially

in the West during early spring.

d. Maintain current records on the quality, locations, and use of western overwintering

habitat.

e. Utilize or adapt modern technologies to advance monarch and habitat monitoring.

R2: Understand factors that influence breeding and migration.

a. Document egg and larval survival, estimate survival rates, and determine factors that

influence survival.

b. Improve knowledge of monarch movement across the landscape.

c. Determine or estimate reproductive recruitment and migratory success from different

regions.

d. Study impacts of interchange between eastern and western populations.

e. Determine habitat characteristics with highest potential for monarch reproductive

performance.

R3: Assess the effects of threats and stressors on monarchs and habitat.

a. Evaluate habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation and their impacts on monarch

reproduction and migratory success.

b. Determine the influence of climate change and other environmental factors on

monarchs and their habitat.

c. Determine the effects of predators, parasites, parasitoids, and disease on monarch

population dynamics.

d. Evaluate the effects of captive rearing practices on monarch fitness, disease prevalence,

and migratory success.

https://monarchjointventure.org/images/uploads/documents/IMMP_Guidebook_V3_2020.pdf


e. Determine the status and impacts of non-migratory behaviors to migratory populations.

f. Investigate variability and risks of chemical or other toxic substance exposure.

g. Quantify the extent of vehicle collisions on monarch populations, particularly during

migration periods.

h. Determine impacts of insect pests and diseases that affect plant species on which

monarchs depend.

R4: Evaluate the effectiveness of habitat conservation efforts.

a. Understand the effects of planting and management techniques on habitat quality and

monarch use.

b. Evaluate best practices for milkweed and nectar plant propagation and establishment.

R5: Improve engagement through social science research.

a. Leverage social science techniques to understand drivers and barriers for different

audiences to engage with monarch conservation.

b. Use social research to advance development of cultural norms promoting pollinator-

friendly practices.


Section IV: Partnership

Partnership Goals

The following are the six goals for monarch and pollinator partnership included in the 2021



to select and tailor research actions based on the specific expertise, needs, and realities of your

community and geographic location.

P1: Increase available funds and capacity building for monarch and pollinator conservation.

P2: Increase outreach to expand partnerships with diverse audiences.

P3: Improve coordination across stakeholders working in monarch and pollinator

conservation.

P4: Improve tracking of collective accomplishments.

P5: Convene stakeholder meetings to increase networking, information sharing, and

collaboration.

P6: Expand collaborative conservation efforts in Canada and Mexico.

Key Principles

The following are key principles within conservation partnerships. While they may not be


be integrated into all applicable partnership efforts.

• Foster collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships across the United States and

North America.

• Engage in communication, resource-sharing, and knowledge exchange to effectively

work towards shared goals for monarch and pollinator conservation.

• Share or pool funding when possible to increase conservation capacity.

• Actively participate in partner meetings to learn, share, and find opportunities for

collaboration.


Partnership Goals and Action Strategies

P1: Increase available funds and capacity building for monarch and pollinator

conservation.

a. Identify and pursue collaborative funding opportunities for priority conservation

projects.

b. Diversify funding sources for pollinator conservation work.

c. Define specific project funding needs to advance goals and action strategies.

d. Promote connections between environmental issues or resource concerns to expand

applicable funding opportunities.

e. Develop new fundraising and marketing models to bring in new audiences and

supporters.

f. Expand capacity for pollinator work by integrating conservation tasks into position

descriptions for new hires and existing personnel.

P2: Increase outreach to expand partnerships with diverse audiences.

a. Reach out to government, community, and business leaders to encourage increased

organizational involvement in monarch and pollinator conservation work.

b. Expand partnerships with and opportunities for underserved and underrepresented

communities or audiences.

c. Assess the real and perceived barriers preventing different audiences from

implementing monarch and pollinator conservation activities.

P3: Improve coordination across stakeholders working in monarch and

pollinator conservation.

a. Maintain sector or topic-based working groups to increase information sharing,

networking, and collaborative opportunities

b. Enlist appropriate scientific or program advisors to inform new and existing monarch

and pollinator conservation activities.

c. Maintain a directory to organize and access information about the monarch and

pollinator conservation network and their activities.

d. Encourage subgroups to coordinate within broader conservation plans.


P4: Improve tracking of collective accomplishments.

a. Maintain compatible, user-friendly tools and metrics for tracking collective progress

towards monarch and pollinator conservation targets.

b. Improve tracking tools and record keeping for ongoing projects to enable greater

information sharing and adaptation.

c. Encourage all stakeholders to participate in comprehensive reporting of efforts and

scientific data sharing.

P5: Convene stakeholder meetings to increase networking, information sharing,

and collaboration.

a. Increase the diversity of participation at stakeholder meetings.

b. Encourage participation and engagement across all levels of decision makers within an

organization.

c. Foster working groups for different areas of interest or expertise to strengthen ties

between individuals working towards collective goals.

P6: Expand collaborative conservation efforts in Canada and Mexico.

a. Engage in trilateral forums for monarch conservation to exchange information,

priorities, and opportunities for collaboration.

b. Expand relationship-building opportunities across North American countries to maintain

continued international coordination.


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