Policy Without Borders? A Comparitive Analysis of Monarch Butterfly Conservation Frameworks in Canada, the United States and Mexico

Abstract

The IUCN and Canada list the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as endangered, yet the species remains only a “candidate” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and has no formal listing in Mexico. This disparity in conservation status raises concerns about the effectiveness of existing protections, particularly given the monarch’s transnational migratory behavior. Each year, monarchs migrate across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, relying on habitats in all three countries for breeding, feeding, and overwintering, making coordinated conservation efforts essential. Canada enforces legal protection through the Species at Risk Act (SARA), but the U.S. and Mexico lack enforceable conservation measures, limiting the effectiveness of international conservation strategies. In the U.S., policymakers have resisted listing the species under the ESA, possibly due to concerns that herbicide and pesticide use restrictions would impact the agricultural sector. This study used thematic analysis to compare key monarch conservation frameworks, including Canada’s SARA, Nova Scotia’s Species at Risk Act, the U.S. ESA, the North American Monarch Conservation Plan, and NGO-led initiatives. The research examines habitat conservation, threat mitigation, monitoring practices, and cross-border collaboration. Qualitative data analysis software was used to identify policy alignment and gaps, particularly the consequences of weak legislative enforcement in the U.S. and Mexico. Findings from this study contribute to the understanding of international conservation governance challenges and offer insights into strengthening policy coordination for the protection of the monarch butterfly and other migratory species.