A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as "Milkweed for Monarchs Month" in New Jersey.

Whereas, The monarch butterfly, with its bright orange wings and contrasting black and white markings, is one of the most iconic and most studied butterflies in North America, and is widely admired for its beauty; and

Whereas, The monarch is also extremely beneficial, pollinating many cultivated flowers and crops, and serves as an indicator species for the ecological health of large geographic areas; and

Whereas, Each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from their overwintering sites in Mexico and California to the northern United States and Canada during the spring months, and then return to their overwintering habitats in the fall, stopping at sites along the way, including New Jersey, to feed and reproduce; and

Whereas, Monarch butterflies arrive in New Jersey as early as mid-April and can be seen throughout the summer and fall months, with the last of the Mexico-bound migrants passing through in late November; and

Whereas, Monarch butterflies can be found in any open habitat with wildflowers, including meadows and marshes, and are easily attracted to gardens with native plants such as milkweed, purple coneflower, aster, and goldenrod; and

Whereas, Historically, the biggest concentrations have occurred in Cape May and other coastal areas, where hundreds of monarch butterflies could be seen feeding on seaside goldenrod, and roosting on eastern redcedar trees; and

Whereas, In recent years, however, migrating monarch populations in New Jersey and across the country have dwindled, continuing what scientists call an "increasingly alarming decline"; and

Whereas, A report from the World Wildlife Fund indicates that migrating monarch butterflies are in "grave danger," as their overwintering colonies in Mexico now occupy only 1.65 acres, down from the nearly 45 acres they occupied in 1996; and

Whereas, Scientists estimate that, in 2013, the migrating monarch butterfly population consisted of just 35 million butterflies, a sharp drop from the nearly one billion monarchs that once made the 2,500-mile journey, and the prospects of the population rebounding are diminishing; and

Whereas, The monarch butterfly's annual migration, which has been described by many as the most spectacular in the insect world, has been classified as a "threatened phenomenon" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; and

Whereas, A major cause of decline in the migrating monarch butterfly population is the widespread loss of a plant called milkweed, which is the only plant monarch butterflies lay their eggs on, and the monarch's primary larval food source; and

Whereas, New Jersey's native milkweeds, including butterfly, swamp, and whorled milkweed, generally grow between one and five feet tall, produce multi-colored flowers, are water-retentive, and can be planted in fields, gardens, and wetlands; and

Whereas, Once widespread throughout the United States, milkweed has seen its range fall 58 percent between 1999 and 2010 due to human development and other activities; and

Whereas, A greater effort is needed on the part of public and private organizations and individuals to build and protect monarch butterfly habitats, including native milkweed, so that future generations may enjoy the annual monarch butterfly migration; and

Whereas, Individuals can help by constructing monarch butterfly waystations, which provide milkweed and other resources necessary for monarch butterflies to produce successive generations and sustain their spectacular migration through the State; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The month of May each year shall be designated as "Milkweed for Monarchs Month" in order to encourage public officials, businesses, schools, and the residents of this State to plant and protect native milkweed and nectar sources, so that monarch butterflies have the resources necessary to produce successive generations and sustain their spectacular migration through the State.

2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation recognizing May as "Milkweed for Monarchs Month" and shall call upon public officials, businesses, schools, and the citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution would designate May of each year as "Milkweed for Monarchs Month," in order encourage public officials, businesses, schools, and the residents of the State to plant and protect native milkweed and nectar sources, so that monarch butterflies have the resources necessary to produce successive generations and sustain their spectacular migration through the State.

The monarch butterfly is one of the most iconic and most studied butterflies in North America, and is widely admired for its beauty. It is also extremely beneficial, pollinating many cultivated flowers and crops, and serves as an indicator species for the ecological health of a large geographic area. Each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from their overwintering sites in Mexico and California to the northern United States and Canada during the spring months, and then return to their overwintering habitats in the fall, stopping at sites along the way, including New Jersey, to feed and reproduce. Monarch butterflies have traditionally arrived in New Jersey in mid-April, and can be seen in any open habitat with wildflowers, such as meadows and marshes, throughout the summer and fall. Historically, the biggest concentrations have occurred in Cape May and other coastal areas.

However, in recent years, migrating monarch populations in New Jersey and across the country have deceased significantly. A report from the World Wildlife Fund indicates that migrating monarch butterflies are in "grave danger," as their overwintering colonies in Mexico now occupy only 1.65 acres, down from the nearly 45 acres they occupied in 1996. Scientists estimate that, in 2013, the migrating monarch butterfly population was just 35 million butterflies, a sharp drop from the nearly one billion monarchs that once made the 2,500-mile journey. Alarmingly, the monarch's annual migration, which has been described by many as the most spectacular in the insect world, has been classified as a "threatened phenomenon" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

A major cause of decline in the migrating monarch butterfly population is the widespread loss of a plant called milkweed, which is the only plant monarch butterflies lay their eggs on, and the monarch's primary larval food source. New Jersey's native milkweeds, including butterfly, swamp, and whorled milkweed, generally grow between one and five feet tall, produce multi-colored flowers, are water-retentive, and can be planted in fields, gardens, and wetlands. Once widespread throughout the United States, milkweed has seen its range fall 58 percent between 1999 and 2010 due to human development and other activities. A greater effort is needed on the part of public and private organizations and individuals to plant milkweed and build and protect monarch butterfly habitats so that future generations may enjoy the annual monarch butterfly migration.

This joint resolution would also direct the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing May as "Milkweed for Monarchs Month" and to call upon public officials, businesses, schools, and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.