Monarch and Western Bumble Bees Listed

Summary#

The federal government issued the Order Amending Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act (SOR/2023-263) to change how three pollinator taxa are listed under the law. It moves the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) from “special concern” to endangered, adds the Western Bumble Bee occidentalis subspecies (Bombus occidentalis occidentalis) as threatened, and adds the Western Bumble Bee mckayi subspecies (Bombus occidentalis mckayi) as special concern. The Order was registered on December 8, 2023 and came into force on registration.

What it does#

• Adds or reclassifies the three named insects on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act so they get federal attention and tools for recovery.
• For species listed as endangered or threatened, SARA’s general prohibitions immediately make it illegal on federal lands to:
  • kill, harm, harass, capture or take individuals; or
  • damage or destroy their residences (where identified).
• For the species listed as special concern, the listing triggers the requirement to prepare a management plan to reduce risks before they get worse.
• Listing leads to government actions such as recovery strategies, action plans, and (when possible) the identification and protection of critical habitat. Those protections are most direct on federal lands; protection on provincial or private lands may need additional orders or agreements.
• People or organizations can apply for permits to carry out activities that would otherwise be prohibited, under conditions set by the competent minister.

Who's affected#

• Federal land managers and agencies, including Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada, which must lead recovery planning and compliance work.
• People and businesses operating on federal lands and First Nation reserves (which are federal lands for SARA purposes). That includes some farms on reserves where milkweed (the Monarch’s host plant) occurs.
• Agricultural producers who manage crops such as corn, soy, canola and wheat on federal lands could see restrictions on some herbicide or vegetation-removal practices during the Monarch’s breeding season.
• Researchers, conservation groups and others who work with these species (permits may be needed for research or restoration activities).
• Indigenous peoples and communities that use or steward land in the species’ ranges; the listing may affect activities on reserves and creates opportunities for co‑operation in recovery planning.
• Most private landowners and the general public are unlikely to be affected unless they work on or own federal land. The Gazette text notes uncertainty about how much critical habitat will be identified and where.

Why it matters#

• These are pollinators with ecological, cultural and economic roles. The Government’s analysis notes the Monarch has declined by more than 50% at monitored overwintering sites and the occidentalis bumble bee has declined by over 30% at some sites. Listing signals that the government views their risk as serious.
• The listings trigger recovery planning and legal protections on federal lands that are intended to reduce threats (for example, from habitat loss, pesticides and disease) and to guide future conservation work.
• Real-world effects to watch for:
  • Removal of milkweed or other activities that would kill Monarch eggs, caterpillars or chrysalises on federal lands could require a SARA permit during the breeding season (roughly June to October, with slightly different timing noted in parts of Ontario).
  • The government estimates total costs from these listings of about $3 million to $8.8 million over 10 years, including recovery planning, permits and enforcement. Enforcement costs are estimated at about $750,000 over 10 years. Potential farm profit losses from restricted practices are estimated at $1 million to $3 million over the same period.
  • First Nation reserves with active agriculture are identified as a group that could be disproportionately affected, because they are federal lands where the prohibitions apply.
• The Order also starts processes (recovery strategies, possible habitat identification and permits) that will determine more detailed on-the-ground rules; the Gazette text notes some parts remain uncertain until those steps are completed.