pesticides
Butterfly populations in the U.S. are plummeting, study finds
Butterfly numbers in the contiguous United States have declined by 22% over the past two decades, with habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use driving the drop, according to new research.
Catrin Einhorn and Harry Stevens report for The New York Times.
In short:
- A study analyzing 12.6 million butterflies from 77,000 surveys found that 245 species declined between 2000 and 2020, with only 32 species increasing.
- Common species, including the American lady and cabbage white, saw drastic drops, while some of the rarest butterflies faced near-total collapse.
- Researchers suspect pesticide exposure, particularly neonicotinoids, is a major driver of declines, alongside climate shifts pushing species northward.
Key quote:
“The loss that we’re seeing over such a short time is really alarming. Unless we change things, we’re in for trouble.”
— Elise Zipkin, quantitative ecologist at Michigan State University and one of the authors of the study
Why this matters:
Butterflies are essential pollinators and serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Their decline signals broader environmental instability affecting plants, birds, and other wildlife. Pesticides and habitat destruction are reducing insect populations worldwide, with cascading effects up the food chain. While some species are shifting their ranges to adapt to climate change, others are disappearing altogether. Without intervention, these losses could further disrupt ecosystems and food production.
Nature's comeback: How rewilding is transforming golf courses
Communities worldwide are transforming former golf courses into thriving natural habitats, enhancing biodiversity and public well-being.
In short:
- The Plock of Kyle in Scotland, once a neglected golf course, now flourishes with diverse ecosystems, including wildflower meadows and peat bogs, supporting species like otters and dragonflies.
- In California, the Trust for Public Land converted the San Geronimo Golf Course into a public park, restoring habitats for endangered coho salmon and creating recreational spaces for the community.
- This rewilding trend addresses environmental concerns associated with golf courses, such as excessive water use and habitat destruction, by repurposing the land for conservation and public enjoyment.
Key quote:
"Certainly, some of the key environmental concerns with golf over time have involved pesticide spraying, the quantity of water used, especially in times of drought, and the significant amount of land sometimes needed for a golf course."
— Brad Millington, co-author of The Greening of Golf
Why this matters:
This rewilding movement tackles environmental drawbacks traditionally associated with golf courses. Repurposing golf courses into natural habitats not only conserves biodiversity and reduces sources of pesticide contamination, but also provides accessible green spaces, promoting physical and mental health for local communities.
Read more: Ukraine's wartime environmental damage could lead to long-term ecological recovery
Brazilian states push back on Amazon protections
Brazilian Amazon states are rolling back environmental regulations, with Mato Grosso leading efforts to weaken deforestation controls and challenge international conservation agreements.
In short:
- Mato Grosso passed a law undermining the soy moratorium, which had helped reduce Amazon deforestation by 69% since 2008. Other Amazon states have also approved measures weakening conservation protections.
- State lawmakers are attempting to redefine protected Amazon lands as Cerrado grasslands, allowing more agricultural expansion. Though the governor vetoed the bill, discussions continue.
- A growing agribusiness lobby opposes international environmental rules, including the EU's anti-deforestation law, arguing that restrictions threaten economic development.
Key quote:
“These proposals are being given a place they never had before. It’s an all-out attack.”
— Suely Araújo, public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory
Why this matters:
Deforestation in the Amazon accelerates climate change, threatens biodiversity and endangers Indigenous communities. Weakening environmental protections could also lead to water shortages that even agribusinesses rely on. International pressure and sustainable policies are key to protecting the region.
Read more: Brazil’s new laws threaten Amazon deforestation protections
Monarch butterfly population in the West drops to near-record low
Monarch butterflies overwintering along the California coast have declined by 96% in a year, with habitat loss, pesticides and extreme heat contributing to their second-lowest population in nearly three decades.
In short:
- The Xerces Society counted just 9,119 western monarchs in 2024, down from 233,394 in 2023 and near the record low of 1,901 in 2020.
- Extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 100°F, may have disrupted breeding and survival, compounding threats from habitat loss and pesticide exposure.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering listing monarchs as a threatened species, which would bring legal protections for the butterflies and their habitat.
Key quote:
“This is bad news. But we have seen incredible recovery. This doesn’t mean we’re not going to have western monarchs. It’s hopefully a wake-up call that a bad year can set them back pretty significantly.”
— Emma Pelton, Xerces Society biologist
Why this matters:
Monarch butterflies are now a poignant reminder of nature’s fragility. These iconic insects are more than just a spectacle of migration, traveling thousands of miles between Mexico and the United States; they are essential pollinators, supporting ecosystems and food crops that sustain human and animal life. But their population has plummeted by as much as 85% in the last two decades, raising alarm among scientists and conservationists.
Related:
Ants could help farms fight pests and climate-driven crop disease
Researchers say ants may help protect crops like apples, mangoes and cocoa by reducing plant diseases and replacing chemical pesticides.
In short:
- Ants secrete antimicrobial substances that protect crops from pathogens and pests.
- Studies show that ants in orchards can significantly reduce disease, such as apple scab and mango anthracnose.
- Some experts remain skeptical, noting existing biopesticides may already be as effective as using ants.
Key quote:
“Ants are a Swiss army knife. Kind of like a multi-tool for farmers.”
— Ida Cecilie Jensen, Aarhus University biologist
Why this matters:
Pesticide overuse can harm ecosystems, spur resistance in pests and worsen climate impacts. Ants offer a natural alternative that could save money and reduce pesticide reliance, though more research is needed to address potential ecological risks.
Related:
British Columbia’s war on aspen is fueling wildfires
For decades, B.C.’s forestry industry has used glyphosate herbicides to kill aspen and other deciduous trees, prioritizing conifers for profit—a practice critics say intensifies wildfire risks and depletes ecosystems.
In short:
- Glyphosate spraying in B.C. forests targets aspen and other plants to prioritize conifer plantations, but this practice undermines biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
- Aspen, with its moisture-retaining properties, serves as a natural firebreak, reducing wildfire intensity, while conifers contribute to drier, more flammable landscapes.
- Critics, including ecologists, argue glyphosate spraying exacerbates fire risks, disrupts forest ecosystems, and harms species that rely on aspen for food and shelter.
Key quote:
“We’ve got to stop cutting down aspen, we’ve got to stop spraying aspen. Nature can heal itself, but we’ve got to get out of the way.”
— James Steidle, founder of Stop the Spray B.C.
Why this matters:
With wildfires becoming more severe due to climate change, preserving aspen forests could mitigate fire risks and promote healthier ecosystems. The B.C. NDP government pledged to phase out herbicide use in forestry, but critics say progress has been sluggish. Meanwhile, communities bear the brunt of bigger, hotter wildfires while biodiversity takes a backseat to profit. Read more: Glyphosate, explained.
Rice farming as justice: Black farmers reclaim a birthright while healing the land
Jubilee Justice is helping Black farmers in the South grow rice regeneratively, restoring ancestral ties to the land while tackling climate change.
In short:
- Jubilee Justice, founded by Konda Mason, trains Black farmers to grow rice using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a climate-friendly technique that reduces methane emissions and water use.
- The Black Farmers Cohort supports growers across six states with seeds, equipment, and technical assistance to overcome the challenges of adopting SRI.
- The project addresses racial and economic inequities, reclaiming a legacy rooted in African agricultural expertise and rebuilding Black land ownership.
Key quote:
“What we’re doing is reclaiming rice and rice farming as our foodways, as our invention, as our birthright.”
— Konda Mason, founder of Jubilee Justice
Why this matters:
This project intertwines racial justice and climate resilience, showing how regenerative farming can lower emissions while empowering historically marginalized farmers. Growing rice regeneratively reconnects Black communities to ancestral agricultural roots and restores economic opportunity to land that often harbors painful stories. Read more: Rising CO2 will leave crops—and millions of humans—less healthy.
