The main threats to the migratory monarch butterfly include illegal logging, land development, loss of milkweed plants, and climate change, all of which affect its habitat and migration. Despite these threats there is evidence that conservation efforts designed to protect the monarch’s critical overwintering habitat and expand the areas planted with milkweed in its summer breeding habitat are stabilizing the population. Overwintering habitat has expanded from about 1 hectare (about 2.5 acres) in 2023–24 to almost 3 hectares (7.4 acres) in 2025–26, leading to an increase of several tens of millions of returning adult butterflies.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style