Quick Take:
Federal fish and wildlife officials have proposed protecting nearly 300 acres of Santa Cruz coastline as critical habitat for monarch butterflies as part of a push to have the butterfly’s Western population designated as a threatened species.
Nearly 300 acres of Santa Cruz County coastline could soon receive special federal designation to protect one of the world’s most recognizable insects: the monarch butterfly.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans this week to designate 4,395 acres of land in California as critical habitat for the butterfly.
That includes 289 acres of Santa Cruz parkland at Natural Bridges State Beach, Lighthouse Field State Beach, Ocean View Park just east of Ocean Street and Moran Lake on the Eastside. These areas contain “overwintering” sites, which are essential resting places for the butterflies during the winter as they prepare for breeding in the spring.
The protections are part of the federal agency’s push to have the monarch butterfly designated a “threatened” species and establish specific protections for the butterfly under the Endangered Species Act.
The monarch butterfly population along the Western coast of North America has fallen by more than 95% since the 1980s and there is a 99% chance that Western populations of the species could go extinct by 2080, the federal agency said. The butterflies face threats from the loss of breeding and migratory habitat, insecticides and the effects of climate change.
The critical habitat designation affects only activities that require federal funding, permits or approvals, John Heil, the agency’s spokesperson for the Pacific Southwest Region, told Lookout on Wednesday by email. The designation also generally won’t affect private landowners. The designation doesn’t automatically restrict activities in these areas, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide recommendations to minimize impacts on the butterfly population.
He added that the state and local parks covered by the designation in Santa Cruz County could be eligible for grants to fund conservation and restoration efforts.
“The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating lifecycle. Despite its fragility, it is remarkably resilient, like many things in nature when we just give them a chance,” FWS Director Martha Williams said in a media release. “Science shows that the monarch needs that chance, and this proposed listing invites and builds on unprecedented public participation in shaping monarch conservation efforts.”
Public input on the proposal opens Thursday and runs until March 12. Those interested in commenting or attending information sessions can search docket number FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137 on regulations.gov.
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