In recognition of our significant efforts to conserve and protect the monarch butterfly, NRPA has been accepted into the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) partnership, a consortium of national organizations and federal agencies working to protect the monarch butterfly and restore monarch populations to their former numbers in the United States.

As part of the North American Monarch Conservation Plan, MJV works throughout the United States “to conserve and protect monarch populations and their migratory phenomena by implementing science-based habitat conservation and restoration measures in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.”

During the past two years, NRPA has shown leadership in the national effort to create and restore habitat for monarchs and to involve the public in monarch conservation through the Parks for Monarchs campaign. Our goal is to engage every public park and recreation agency to collectively work to restore the monarch to former numbers and habitats. 

Scientific studies have shown that monarch butterflies are in serious trouble. In the past 20 years, monarch populations in North America are estimated to have declined more than 90 percent, raising concerns that the entire transcontinental migration of this remarkable species may be threatened. The key to the monarch’s continued health is the creation of quality habitats for migrating monarchs through the planting of milkweed plants that are essential to the monarch’s life cycle.

NRPA’s efforts to conduct training and provide education for park professionals; make resources available for agencies; enable the public to participate in research, habitat restoration and citizen science; and engage hundreds of park and recreation agencies in planting thousands of acres of milkweed and other nectar-bearing plants in suitable habitat, are all recognized by NRPA’s invitation and acceptance in the MJV partnership.

Learn about NRPA’s Parks for Pollinators campaign.

Richard J. Dolesh is NRPA’s Vice President of Conservation and Parks.