Monarch Butterfly Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA)

wetland restorationconservation
Written By Kristin Shardlow

Recognizing the ecological roles of pollinators and the pressures they face from habitat loss and climate change, efforts are being made to ensure a future for these vital species.

Supporting Monarch Butterflies 

As we continue to observe the decline of pollinator populations, people have rallied in support of species such as the Monarch Butterfly. From rain gardens to backyard plantings and wetland restorations, there has been a focus to increase habitat range and improve quality across multiple scales of restoration. 

One such effort, spearheaded by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Energy Resources Center, known as the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group, has garnered the support of the energy and transportation sector across the United States. Through the use of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) instrument, the group is promoting best management practices and securing voluntary agreements to create, restore and maintain critical Monarch habitat. The implications of this project are vast and can set the standard for future pollinator-friendly partnerships for years to come. Let’s take a dive into the details of this project and what it could mean for the Monarch Butterfly.

Close up image of a hand holding a leaf with a monarch caterpiller.

Conservation efforts including wetland restoration and mitigation banking can support healthy pollinator populations.

What is a CCAA?   

Simply stated, a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) is a conservation agreement between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and one or more non-federal property owners to protect at-risk species. Through the Candidate Conservation Program, any interested private property owners, easement holders, and lease holders are able to voluntarily address the needs of at-risk species before they become listed as endangered or threatened and federally protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To participate in a CCAA, parties agree to implement specific conservation measures that minimize threats to species covered under the agreement. In return, agreeing parties receive assurances that they will not be required to undertake any additional conservation measures in the future, regardless of ESA status.

Who are the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group and what are they doing?

Formed in 2015, the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group is hosted and facilitated by the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The group is composed of professionals from across multiple sectors, including gas, electric, rail, and road industries. Represented in the group are a unique collection of professionals including biologists, engineers, environmentalists, lawyers, educators, and other stakeholders interested in supporting habitat on working landscapes. 

As indicated by their name, one of the primary focuses of the group is restoration on rights-of-way (ROW). Rights-of-way areas include roadsides, railroad corridors and electric and gas line pathways. The Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group seeks to leverage the abundance of ROW and their already established plant communities as targeted, restorable habitat for pollinator species. Rights-of-way are sites that encompass a multitude of landscape types, connect habitats to other favorable environments, and are generally safe from major disturbances or future development. By partnering with stakeholders in the transportation and energy sectors, the group can create a network of habitat corridors that provide the food and shelter for the Monarch Butterfly.

With the support of over 40 organizations and counting, the group finalized this Monarch-focused CCAA plan in April of 2020. Included in the agreement are conservation strategies that benefit monarchs and include practices that align with common vegetation management requirements on rights-of-way. Land management activities such as brush removal, conservation-timed mowing, and seeding or planting of native wildflowers such as Milkweed species are some of the pollinator-focused conservation measures included in the CCAA. Aligning with the voluntary-nature of CCAAs as a whole, applicants are only required to conduct conservation measures, address threats and monitor results that are within their control.

The hope is that this Monarch CCAA serves as an innovative model for large-scale landscape conservation and will lead to additional, wetland-focused restoration projects in the future.

Why is this special? 

While crucial in identifying at-risk species and offering legal protections for them, the endangered species list is not fully comprehensive. Many species, such as the Monarch Butterfly, that are showing signs of stress via population decline are not included on the federal list due to prioritization factors and budgetary limitations. A CCAA provides a means for individuals and organizations to enact conservation measures in advance of species entering the list. It is a tool that encourages early action and can appeal to all scales of restoration. With the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service providing regulatory assurances, a CCAA insulates organizations and land-owners from future regulation and conservation requirements. 

The CCAA developed by the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group demonstrates the interest and the level of investment in habitat conservation that can be made across industry sectors in the United States. The effort is groundbreaking in terms of its cross-sector participation and nationwide extent; potentially millions of acres of habitat across the lower 48 states will be reached through this CCAA. The hope is that this Monarch CCAA serves as an innovative model for large-scale landscape conservation and will lead to additional, wetland-focused restoration projects in the future.

Let’s get started!

Contact MPI today with your ecological restoration and mitigation banking project needs. Our team is ready with answers and expert services to bring your vision to life.

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Mitigation Partners, Inc. Founders Dax Dickson & Tory Christensen

Kristin Shardlow
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