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“We’ve seen very steep declines in the Western population,” said Dan Ashe, director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The population, he said, has dropped to about 50 million in 2014 from about one billion butterflies less than 20 years ago.

Experts blame the drop in numbers on extreme weather, a decline of the butterflies’ habitat in Mexico from illegal logging and the displacement of milkweed, which the species feeds on, in the United States and Canada.

In Canada, Milburn-Hopwood said work is underway by governments, conservation organizations, researchers and retailers to implement conservation efforts.

“The monarch butterfly faces many threats,” she said, noting the federal government is focused on the loss of breeding habitat.

It has also been listed as a species of special concern under the federal Species At Risk Act.

“Canada has developed a proposed management plan,” she said, explaining they’ve established a working group to come up with best management practices on farmland, as well as in gas and hydro corridors, for milkweed.

Earlier this year, conservationists said a national effort to plant milkweed is needed to reverse the decline in the monarch butterfly population. They’re hoping the federal government will step up with money and moral persuasion to aid an effort they say needs to include power line, road and rail agencies.

Officials said everyone can play a part in protecting the species.

“Every citizen in Canada, the United States and Mexico has a personal role to play to help the monarchs,” said Ashe, noting it’s possible by planting milkweed and cutting back on pesticide use.

“Our challenge is to knit together actions to have a population-level impact for this magnificent animal.”

Ashe said they hope to present the three nation conservation strategy to the North American Leaders’ Summit this fall. No date has yet been set for the meeting.

cderworiz@calgaryherald.com

Twitter: cderworiz