North American Monarch Conservation Plan (NAMCP)

1. North American Monarch Conservation Plan(NAMCP) Trinational Monarch Butterfly Monitoring Workshop October 27-29, 2008 Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico Donita Cotter U.S. Fish and Wildife Service Donita_Cotter@fws.gov

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Challenge of Continental Scale Conservation Planning:Knowledge & Action • What organisms need • When they need it • Howthose needs are met • Why those needs aren’t being met • Whatwe can do to assure that those needs continue to be met • Science-based conservation actions

10. Fall Migration

11. Spring Migration

12. 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

13. 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

14. Threats: Wintering Stage Deforestation March 2004 February 2008 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

15. Overarching Plan Goal:Population Persistence • Sufficient suitable habitat on monarch overwintering grounds (US and Mexico) • Sufficient breeding and migrating habitat (Canada, Mexico and the US)

16. Key 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

17. Planning 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

18. Plan 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

19. Trinational Conservation Actions Address: • Threats prevention, control and mitigation • Innovative enabling approaches • Research, monitoring, evaluation and reporting • Education, outreach and capacity building

20. Monitoring 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

21. 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

22. Creating a Monitoring Network Link to Existing Programs & Initiatives • Citizen science monitoring programs • Sister Protected Area/Sister Sites Network • Monarch Waystations Provide Tools in 3 languages – Monitoring Handbook Replicate monitoring training workshops – “train the trainer” Share data & information

23. 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