The monarch butterfly is an iconic species known for its incredible annual migration, where populations from eastern North America fly thousands of miles to overwinter in Mexico. However, over the past several decades, monarch populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use.
The MJV works to address these challenges by coordinating research, conservation, and education efforts across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This includes developing best management practices for monarch habitat restoration, promoting citizen science projects to monitor monarch populations, and advocating for policies that support monarch conservation.
The partnership consists of over 115 organizations, including government agencies such including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, non-governmental organizations such as the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and the National Wildlife Federation, and academic institutions such as the University of Minnesota and the University of Kansas.
Through its collaborative efforts, the Monarch Joint Venture is working to ensure that the iconic monarch butterfly remains a vibrant and integral part of North America’s ecosystems.