Description
Background: The monarch butterfly migration is one of nature's most spectacular events. North American monarchs travel up to an astonishing 3,000 miles in an annual migration from their summer breeding habitat to overwintering grounds. The Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) is a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academic programs that are working together to support and coordinate efforts to protect the monarch migration across the lower 48 United States. The MJV is committed to a science-based approach to monarch conservation work, guided by the North American Monarch Conservation Plan (2008). Based on the successes of previous Joint Ventures, the Monarch Joint Venture brings together a broad coalition of organizations working to conserve the monarch migration. The monarch migration was listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered phenomenon in 1983. In 2010, the World Wildlife Fund included monarchs on its list of the "Top 10 to Watch" in 2010: species that are thought to be in need of close monitoring and protection. The vision of this joint venture is abundant monarch populations that can be sustained into perpetuity, and more broadly to promote monarchs as a flagship species whose conservation will sustain habitats for pollinators and other plants and animals. Objectives: This Joint Venture works throughout the U.S. to conserve and protect monarch populations and their migratory phenomena by implementing science-based habitat conservation and restoration measures in collaboration with multiple stakeholders. The BLM is interested in supporting: 1) Land manager, agency staff, and citizen science trainings will be coordinated through MJV partners. The MJV coordinator will work with BLM staff and others to recruit for and organize workshops or training events. 2) Toxicity studies, habitat assessment, habitat mapping, and other research activities will be carried out by MJV partners selected to be the most appropriate for the work to be done, as prioritized by the MJV steering committee and as funds allow. 3) Habitat-increase work will provide support for MJV partners, leveraging current projects to help establish more habitat for monarchs, primarily in the West. Public Benefit: Support for protecting America's landscapes and natural resources is among the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) high priority conservation outcomes. The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public lands, together with associated waterways and plant and animal species. Maintaining and preserving the Nation's lands, waters, and wildlife have profound influences on all facets of the human experience, including health and well‐being, contributions to local economies, and social and spiritual enhancements. Land in desired condition is valued for its environmental resources, ecosystem services and recreational and scenic merits, and vast open spaces, which contribute to public enjoyment and health. Maintaining or improving the condition of stream and shoreline miles benefits fish populations, enhances wildlife habitat, and contributes to the balanced ecology of an area. The Nation's forests, shrublands, wetlands, grasslands, mountains and deserts house biological diversity that is critical to overall ecosystem health, and impacts species survival and well‐being. Protecting the thousands of native plant and animal species, including those with special status under the Endangered Species Act like the monarch butterfly that was petitioned for listing in 2014, preserves the rich natural legacy of this Nation and enables Americans of today to provide wonder, enrichment, and enjoyment to future generations.