North American Monarch Conservation Plan

(NAMCP)

North American Monarch Conservation Plan

(NAMCP)

Trinational Monarch Butterfly Monitoring Workshop

October 27-29, 2008Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

Donita CotterU.S. Fish and Wildife Service

Donita_Cotter@fws.gov

Presentation Outline

• What is the North American Monarch Conservation Plan (NAMCP)?

• How was the Plan Developed?

• Challenge of Continental Scale Conservation Planning

• What is in the Plan?

• Focus on Monitoring & Capacity Building Objectives & Actions

What is the NAMCP?

• A long-term cooperative agenda for conservation of the monarch butterfly in North America

• An important tool for conserving habitats, building connections with partners and facilitating the exchange of information critical to the conservation of this species and its incredible migration phenomenon.

Long History of Research & Cooperative Conservation in North America

• International Conferences - 1981, 1986, 1997, and 2001• Government & NGO initiatives

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Foro Monarca, WWF-Mexico, USFWS-Wildlife without Borders, USFS-International Programs, Trilateral Committee, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Alternare, FUNACOMM, Michoacan Restoration Fund, La Cruz Habitat Protection Project, Bird Studies Canada, …

• Citizen Science Monitoring & Environmental Education Monarch Watch, Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, Journey North, Correo Real, Texas Monarch Watch, Biocenosis, Canadian Museum of Nature…

• Monarch and milkweed research

How Was the Plan Developed?

Trilateral Sister Protected Area Workshop• Ecosystem Conservation Working Table project

– funded by CONANP, USFWS, and CWS• Morelia, MX, March 2006• CEC funding for Monitoring Handbook -

December 2006

Monarch Flyway Conservation Workshop• Sponsored by USFS, Texas Parks & Wildlife,

USAID, Wildlife Trust, City of McAllen• Mission, TX, December 2006• Launched NAMCP concept & identified plan

committee

Development of the NAMCP

NAMCP Committee Meetings• Foro Monarca – Morelia, MX, March 2007• Trilateral Meeting - Quebec City, CA, May 2007• Developed draft goals and objectives

NAMCP initiative endorsed by Trilateral Committee• Quebec City, Canada, May 2007

CEC Biodiversity Conservation Working Group (BCWG) Meeting endorsement

• Quebec City, Canada, May 2007

Development of the NAMCP

CEC Council Meeting

• Morelia, MX, June 2007

• Res. #07-09 Trinational cooperation to conserve the Monarch butterfly and promote sustainable local livelihoods

• Allocated funding to support development and implementation of NAMCP

Development of the NAMCP

CEC Trinational Experts Workshop

• Morelia, MX, December 2007

North American Monarch Conservation Plan Delivered at CEC Council Meeting

• Ottawa, Ontario - June 2008

Challenge of Continental Scale Conservation Planning:

Knowledge & Action

Challenge of Continental Scale Conservation Planning:

Knowledge & Action

• What organisms need

• When they need it

• How those needs are met

• Why those needs aren’t being met

• What we can do to assure that those needs continue to be met

• Science-based conservation actions

Fall Migration

Spring Migratio

n

Conservation Challenge:Different Needs During Life Cycle

Conservation Challenge:Different Needs During Life Cycle

• Migrating south

– Nectar sources, safe roosting locations

• Overwintering

– Intact forests that provide proper microclimate, water

• Migrating north and Breeding

– Nectar sources, milkweed, pesticide-free habitat

Threats: Breeding andMigratory Stages

Threats: Breeding andMigratory Stages

• Habitat loss due to changing agricultural practices (genetically modified crops)

• Loss of agricultural land and open spaces: up to 2400 ha lost per day

Threats: Wintering StageThreats: Wintering StageDeforestation

Open circles with dates are former locations of monarch colonies in areas that no longer support colonies (Lomas de Aparicio). Approximately 450 hectares (1,110 acres) of forest were logged between 2004 and 2008. Ikonos satellite photo and analysis: L.P. Brower, D. Slayback, I. Ramirez

March 2004 February 2008

Overarching Plan Goal:Population PersistenceOverarching Plan Goal:Population Persistence

• Sufficient suitable habitat on monarch overwintering grounds (US and Mexico)

• Sufficient breeding and migrating habitat (Canada, Mexico and the US)

Key Objectives of NAMCPKey Objectives of NAMCP

• Decrease or eliminate deforestation due to unsustainable logging in winter habitat

• Address habitat loss and degradation in the flyway

• Address loss, fragmentation, and modification of breeding habitat

• Develop and expand incentives and trilateral actions for conservation

• Monitor monarch performance and habitat quality

Planning PrinciplesPlanning Principles

• Tri-national monarch conservation plan

• Coordinate with existing initiatives

• Use best available science

• Flyway approach

• Consider conservation, environmental, cultural, socio-economic contexts in Mexico, the US, and Canada

Plan ContentsPlan Contents

• Account of the species and its life cycle• Current status and condition• Discussion of current factors causing

loss or decline (threats)• Summary of current conservation actions

in each country• List of key trinational conservation goals,

objectives, and target actions

Trinational Conservation Actions Address:

Trinational Conservation Actions Address:

• Threats prevention, control and mitigation

• Innovative enabling approaches

• Research, monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Education, outreach and capacity building

Monitoring Objectives & ActionsMonitoring Objectives & Actions

Biological Monitoring - (habitat, monarch populations)

• Develop & distribute monitoring handbook & toolkit with standard protocols

• Develop population models for monarchs• Analyze & share data; data management

Identify & Monitor Socioeconomic Factors• WWF Study - assess available breeding and migratory

habitat with associated land use changes

Monitor success of conservation actions

Education, Outreach, & Capacity Building: Objectives & Actions

Education, Outreach, & Capacity Building: Objectives & Actions

Expand communication & information sharing• Trilateral Outreach plan• Develop & distribute educational toolkit

Enhance capacity building, training, and networking programs

• Field trainig program for all levels of decision makers• Training programs for guides • Monitoring training

Creating a Monitoring NetworkCreating a Monitoring NetworkLink to Existing Programs & Initiatives• Citizen science monitoring programs• Sister Protected Area/Sister Sites

Network• Monarch WaystationsProvide Tools in 3 languages – Monitoring

HandbookReplicate monitoring training workshops –

“train the trainer”Share data & information

Let’s Get to Work….Let’s Get to Work….

• Conservation of the monarch butterfly and its unique migratory phenomenon is clearly a shared responsibility of all three countries.

• Implementation of the plan demands we continue to work together building upon the many fine monarch conservation projects already underway