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2021 Monarch Conservation
Implementation Plan
Prepared by
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE
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
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 1
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. 2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 2
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. 2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 3
National Monarch Conservation Targets
North
Core
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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 4National 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 5• 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 6Considerations 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: christine@monarchjointventure.org 2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 7
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 2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 8
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. 2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 9
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. 2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 10
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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 11Habitat 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 12H3: 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 13t. 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 14H6: 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 15d. 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 16Section 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
specifically outlined in the Implementation Plan, they are considered best practices and should
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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 17Education 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 18e. 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 19Section III: Research
Research Goals
The following are the five goals for monarch and pollinator research 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 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
specifically outlined in the Implementation Plan, they are considered best practices and should
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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 20Research 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 21e. 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 22Section IV: Partnership
Partnership Goals
The following are the six goals for monarch and pollinator partnership 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 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
specifically outlined in the Implementation Plan, they are considered best practices and should
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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 23Partnership 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 24P4: 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.
2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 25References
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2021 Monarch Conservation Implementation Plan
MONARCH JOINT VENTURE Page 28You can also read
