Marin Monarch Working Group
Western monarch butterflies used to be a common sight in Marin. But the number of monarchs in Marin has declined by 99% since the 1980s.
Causes of this decline include climate change, habitat loss, parasites, and pesticide use.
It’s not too late to act…but the time to act is now. Join us to learn how you can help!
What’s New???
MMWG recognized by Marin Board of Supervisors for public education, citizen science, and advocacy
Members of the MMWG steering committee, some resplendent in monarch-themed attire, recently accepted the 2024 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Award from the Marin Board of Supervisors on behalf of the group. This award is presented annually to “the person, county employee, or organization deserving of special recognition due to their support of the tenets of IPM.” The commendation acknowledged the MMWG for creating “much needed opportunities for education about the impacts of pesticides on the beloved monarch butterfly, in addition to facilitating citizen science programs and advocacy.” Check out the IPM Commission webpage for more info on our award.
Some of MMWG’s activities and contributions related to IPM include the following:
Public education: Spreading the word about the importance of IPM for the health of the monarch butterfly via 1) social media as well as our website and monthly newsletter; 2) tabling at numerous events throughout the county; and 3) field trips to visit native plant gardens in public urban spaces as well as open space and agricultural lands
Advocacy: Assisting with the development of the Marin Biodiversity Corridor Initiative and other policy proposals to support best practices for habitat restoration and species protection
Habitat restoration: Providing native milkweed seedlings and plants for school gardens and monarch way stations in several local schools; assisting in the development of several pesticide-free native plant gardens including sites at Marin Humane and Fairfax Library; working to protect and restore overwintering sites for monarch butterflies along the coast
Scientific discovery: Participating in community science projects to document factors affecting the welfare of the monarch butterfly, including the Western Monarch Count, the International Monarch Bioblitz, and the 2024 Butterfly Count sponsored by the Southwest Monarch Project
Dana Swisher, Mia Monroe, and Ed Nute, longstanding leaders in the effort to support monarch butterflies and other native species
Is the monarch butterfly currently listed as an endangered or a threatened species in the US?
In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the monarch butterfly as “threatened,” a designation one step less severe than “endangered.” The public comment period on this proposal closed in March 2025. A final decision by the FWS is pending, with an announcement expected in December of 2025.
Will the proposal be accepted? Looking a little dicey at this point…Members of the Trump administration have expressed interest in ending the Endangered Species Act (ESA) altogether, arguing that it is ineffective in saving endangered species and is a hindrance to U.S. “energy domination.”
Are these arguments valid? Recent analyses suggest that relatively few species bounce back sufficiently to be removed from the endangered list. However, those that are on the list are less likely to become extinct than those whose placement on the list has been delayed.
And there have been success stories! The bald eagle nearly disappeared in the lower 48 states due to habitat loss and exposure to DDT. In 1978, with only 417 nesting pairs left, the bald eagle was listed as endangered. In 1995, the population had risen, and its status was changed to “threatened.” By 2007, the population had grown to over 10,000 nesting pairs. The bald eagle was removed from the threatened list, a conservation success story.
Reasons for the success? First, the ESA specified habitat protection and restoration of hunting grounds and nesting sites. Second, a federal ban on DDT allowed the population to rebound.
In short, the problem facing the species on the endangered list, according to analysts, is that insufficient funds are devoted to creating the environmental conditions needed for them to make a comeback.
Read this great article to learn more about the complex story of ESA’s effectiveness in protecting endangered species like the bald eagle.
If the comment period is over, is there any point in urging that the monarch be listed?
Yes, comments can still sway the FWS process! Write a letter to the national U.S. FWS director and copy the Regional FWS office as well as your two US Senators and House Representative.
Martha Williams, Director
US Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington DC 20240
Pacific Southwest Regional Office
US Fish and Wildlife Service
2800 Cottage Way Room W-2606
Sacramento CA 95825
Fire-wise landscaping and native plant gardens
As fire season gets underway, the county is encouraging property owners to minimize the chances that garden plants will provide fuel for flames. Do some of these suggestions run counter to recommendations for creating a thriving native plant garden for pollinators? Yes, to an extent, but there are workarounds that can satisfy both goals. As the images above suggest, there are a number of ways to achieve a fire-smart garden.
Two issues come to the fore in planning a fire-wise garden. One pertains to plant choice and the other to the use of mulch on the surface of the soil.
With respect to plant choice, there are many types of native trees and pollinator plants that are fire resistant. However, some are not, including for example manzanitas, coyote brush, and California buckwheat. If you are selecting new plants, this list of fire-resistant and fire-prone plants can be very helpful. In general, less fire-prone plants have leaves that are high in moisture, contain relatively less wax, oil, and resin, and have an open structure.
With respect to the space around the plants, native plant gardeners have typically been advised to allow organic matter to remain on the surface of the soil in order to accommodate plant self-seeding and to provide habitat for insects and other creatures. Current fire-safe advice is less supportive of leaf litter, specifying the removal of dry, woody vegetation including clumps of fallen leaves and pine needles, particularly near structures.
Similar to general advice on native plant gardening, fire-safe versions acknowledge the role of organic mulch in conserving soil moisture, impeding the grown of weeds and adding organic matter as it breaks down. However, fire-safe versions commonly recommend that gardeners use nonorganic mulch such as rocks and gravel in the five foot zone surrounding homes and other structures, and suggest that nonorganic mulch also be used to demarcate plant “islands.” Fire-safe advisors further suggest that between five and 30 feet from structures, gardeners should select composited wood chips — rather than fine, stringy mulches — to a depth of only two inches with another inch permissible in the case of large gardens extending more than 30 feet beyond the structures.
So the gardener has a considerable latitude in creating a fire-safe native plant garden, but achieving this goal requires careful thought about how to approach plant selection and placement as well as ways to create healthy soil conditions for the plants and resident insects, birds, and other creatures. To obtain detailed information on these topics, consult these helpful guides by Fire Safe Marin and the Marin Master Gardeners.
Who We Are
The Marin Monarch Working Group was established in 2019 to address the existential crisis facing the western monarch, one of California’s most iconic creatures. Our group includes educators and advocates, biologists and botanists, gardeners and monarch lovers.
Public Education
We disseminate science-based information.
Advocacy
We advocate for policies and practices that promote monarch welfare.
Monitoring
We support community science efforts to monitor monarch welfare.
Habitat Restoration
We create and restore monarch habitats in open and public spaces.
Join our mailing list
Those on the mailing list receive an email invitation to attend our monthly MMWG zoom meetings, where we share updates and plan actions to protect the monarch and its habitat.
Please consider making a donation
Your donations will be used to support the advocacy, education, and habitat restoration efforts of our volunteers.
Prefer to donate by check? Make your check out to Turtle Island Restoration Network/MMWG and send it to TIRM, Attn. Audrey Fusco, PO Box 370, Forest Knolls, CA 94933.
MMWG is fiscally sponsored by Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN 91-1818080