Text adapted from the Monarch Joint Venture blog.
Forty-four years after the first-ever conference on monarch conservation and biology, 270 attendees from Canada, Mexico, and the United States added another chapter in the history of trinational monarch collaboration at the 2025 North American Monarch Summit.
The conference was hosted by the Monarch Joint Venture and the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group in Minneapolis, with support from numerous sponsors, from June 24 to 26. Attendees represented 161 organizations, including 28 sponsoring organizations. They attended over 50 talks, panels, and field trips, and participated in several days of great conversations about monarch and pollinator conservation.
This was the first trinational monarch conservation meeting of its kind since 2012 , and the power of collaboration was felt throughout the summit.
“The most impactful part of the Monarch Summit for me was seeing Canada, the United States, and Mexico working together not as separate entities, but as one unified team stewarding the monarchs’ migratory route," said Shiran Herschcovich, a Monarch Butterfly Fund board member. "Plus, everyone was performing such a labor of love with wholehearted dedication, it was inspiring to see exactly the kind of passion monarchs need from us today.”
Monday, June 23, saw many people arrive in time for the evening’s Great Monarch Meetup, a public event that included raffles, food and drinks, outreach tables, interactive activities for people of all ages, and the start of some of the great conversations that were to come.
On Tuesday, the day began with a greeting from Beth Richardson, the Consul General of Canada in Minneapolis, followed by a presentation by Dr. Karen Oberhauser on the history of trinational meetings, dating back to the first monarch conservation conference, hosted by the Xerces Society in 1981. Then, it was on to a panel featuring conservation leaders from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, followed by 19 lightning talks on science, habitat, education, and community engagement. After lunch, groups broke out into regional sessions for focused discussions and networking. It was this time for in-person connection that stuck out to several attendees.
“As a 'veteran' of almost 30 years of monarch biology and conservation meetings, it was amazing to see so many old and new faces at the 2025 Summit," Oberhauser said. "We’ve made a lot of progress, and while we still have to keep working to achieve our goals of monarch and habitat conservation, the energy from so many people in one room dedicated to these goals gives me hope.”
Wednesday began with a community science panel, followed by an address from Consul for Protection of Mexico Antonio Hernandez Baca, and talks on various science and research topics, including mapping seasonal breeding patterns to inform mowing strategies, the impact of tags on monarch movement and survival, and more. Afternoon field trips were impacted by heavy rains in the Twin Cities, but some went ahead as planned, while others pivoted to indoor activities to stay out of the elements.
On Thursday, Nicole Alt of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service welcomed the group in the morning. The week also featured messages from U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. Alt’s welcome was followed by a pesticide panel featuring various stakeholders and experts. This was followed by additional breakout sessions to strategize and discuss ideas.
These meaningful moments and in-person connections will help power the next several years of conservation.
“At this critical time for establishing priorities for monarch conservation, the timing was perfect for hosting the 2025 North American Monarch Summit," Monarch Butterfly Fund Chair Don Davis said. "A great opportunity for seasoned professionals and community scientists who have dedicated decades to this cause to network with colleagues from Canada, the U.S.A., and Mexico who share similar concerns and who bring fresh perspectives or knowledge to the table. We are all inspired to move forward with the hope that we can make a difference.”
Header photo by Rebecca Slater.
