Takeaways from a unique initiative for advancing at-risk butterfly conservation and recovery efforts

A growing body of evidence supports ongoing defaunation of butterflies in North America. The drivers of loss are complex and often attributable to multiple, interacting factors, several of which may be incompletely understood. In the face of this uncertainty, effective at-risk species recovery efforts require a comprehensive toolkit of diverse options to help stabilize, reestablish, and ultimately increase wild populations. As part of a unique, corporately funded comprehensive decadal initiative, we focused on some 42 different declining or federally listed butterfly taxa in the United States. We deployed collaborative recovery planning with diverse stakeholder communities using the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation to strategically develop, manage, and evaluate tailored initiatives. These involved a broad mix of approaches including habitat and species restoration, basic research, and public education. We present a detailed overview of these efforts, their impact, and the lessons learned. Outcomes and lessons learned will also be presented in hopes that it may provide a replicable model for more broadly addressing insect conservation.