John,

Last month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared that North America’s monarch butterfly is now endangered. We must act quickly before it’s too late. Donate to our SEEC members fighting to save species under threat of extinction like the monarch butterfly!

The monarch butterfly, which plays a key role in pollinating certain crops and flowers, is known for its grand migrations throughout the continent. But habitat destruction and climate change have taken their toll on the iconic creature.

Their population has decreased dramatically over the last ten years, with the IUCN estimating a decline of between 22-72%. In the American West alone, the population has been decimated by 99%, from 10 million to under 2,000 since the 1980s.

One of the primary factors in the monarch butterfly’s decline is deforestation in order to harvest timber and to clear space for farming and home development. The use of certain pesticides and herbicides is also a main contributor, as they are not only dangerous to the butterfly itself but also to flowering plants called milkweed, the only plant that the monarch lays its eggs on and that its larvae need to live. Finally, rising temperatures and droughts along its migratory routes are making it difficult for the monarch to survive.

While its fortunes appear grim, there is still hope for the monarch butterfly, John. Efforts to help the population recover, such as planting milkweeds along its migration path, have seen some success in the last year. But insect populations easily fluctuate, so we need to ramp up these efforts to ensure they can bounce back. Our SEEC members work everyday in Congress to protect endangered species like the monarch butterfly. Can you make a donation today to help support our SEEC members as they continue to fight against the biodiversity crisis?

Thank you,

SEEC PAC