Management plan for the monarch (Danaus plexippus) in Canada

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“The Monarch was listed as a species of Special Concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. This designation was based on the premise that, although this species has a population of millions to over one billion individuals, it is vulnerable in the most sensitive stage of its annual cycle, during its overwintering. The overwintering areas occupied by Monarch are very restricted and threats to these sites, combined with threats to breeding habitat and along migratory routes, are sufficient to suggest that the species could become threatened in the near future. The Eastern and Western Monarch populations have declined dramatically over the past 15 to 20 years. As agreed to with the United States and Mexico, the long-term goal is to ensure the conservation of the Monarch butterfly migratory phenomenon. In the near-term, and to substantially lower the risk of extinction of the Eastern Monarch population, the three countries will work towards a target of six hectares of occupied overwintering habitat in Mexico by 2020. The available information is not sufficient to set a quantitative population target for the Western migratory Monarch population. The three countries have agreed to work towards identifying a target for the Western migratory Monarch population. Broad strategies and conservation measures have been identified to help achieve the management objectives for the Monarch”--Executive summary.