New bill introduced addresses declining monarch butterfly numbers on Central Coast

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION) Congressman Jimmy Panetta visited Pacific Grove Thursday to introduce a new bill aimed at preventing the extinction of the western monarch butterfly.

The MONARCH-- or Monarch Action, Recovery and Conservation of Habitat, Act would provide federal funding for efforts to restore and protect butterflies and their habitats.

If it passes, the bill would authorize $62.5 million for monarch conservation projects, and another $62.5 million would be spent by the National Fish and Wildlife Agencies to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan. The funding would be provided in five annual installments of $12.5 million.

"My district on the central coast of California is home to four of the top 10 high priority overwintering sites for western monarch butterflies.  Sadly, as climate change continues to degrade their habitat, we have seen a huge decline in the number of monarchs on the Central Coast and along their migratory path," said Congressman Panetta.

"As the western monarch butterfly comes closer and closer to extinction, we don’t just risk losing these beautiful creatures—we also face an increasing threat to American agriculture and our food supply," said Senator Jeff Merkley, who introduced a companion bill in the senate.

According to Panetta's office, the population of western monarch butterflies has dropped by 99% since the 1980s. Because the butterflies are pollinators, they are important for supporting agriculture, and according to the Department of Agriculture, 35% of the world's food crops depend on pollinators to survive.

The western monarch is not currently on the endangered species list, but Panetta believes this could open that possibility. Being on the list would provide more resources to prevent the butterflies from going extinct.

Read the full bill text here.