PA Environment Digest Blog: Williamsport Sun Editorial: Fate Of Butterflies And More Depends On Us - ‘We Are The Stewards And Caretakers Of This World, The Only World That We Have, It’s Time We Started Acting Like It’

This editorial first appeared in The Lock Haven Express on December 12, 2024 and now in the Williamsport Sun Gazette on January 6, 2025--

A story which ran in the Dec. 11 edition of our sister newspaper, The Express of Lock Haven, provided an update on the plight of the monarch butterfly — a particularly beloved and notable species for many, many people.

Two key takeaways from that story: eastern monarchs face a 57 to 74 percent chance of extinction by 2080, and eastern monarchs have seen a 59 percent decrease in their occupied overwintering space from the previous year, which is now down to just 2.2 acres.

Some readers have houses that sit on more acreage than that.

Imagine the entire overwintering population of eastern monarchs fitting in your backyard.

Increasingly, that is the reality.

The causes are many — and, admittedly, the old adage of planting milkweed only goes so far.

There are over 16,000 endangered species and 38,500 threatened species at present on Earth, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Few have the goodwill enjoyed by monarchs — while conservationists the world over work tirelessly to preserve what of nature they can manage, most species don’t also have grassroots efforts to provide backyard habitat.

We all want to believe that we can make a difference.

The hard truth is that the systems at work devastating our environment cannot be stopped by any one person’s efforts.

It is, however, a human virtue to try anyway — and, when enough of us try all at once, sometimes we can manage to move the needle.

If you have any space for plants, maybe consider curling up with a pencil and some scratch paper this winter, and come up with a plan for some flowers, milkweed and maybe a small fountain or bird bath.

You don’t need a big yard to contribute — even if you only have a balcony, that is enough room for some potted flowers and a bubbler.

Of course, we would advocate for planting native species for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being that they are resilient plants meant for our local environment, which means they need very little attention and, once established, can survive even the most dedicated of black thumbs.

There are an abundance of local resources, such as the Conservation District and the Master Gardeners, who can point you in the right direction — and there are a number of online tools, as well, such as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the National Wildlife Foundation and the Xerces Society.

The worst case scenario is that you don’t manage to help the monarch — but, you may be able to help native bees, other butterflies and moths, and, if nothing else, you’ll have something pretty to look at.

The increasing urbanization of our cities and suburban sprawl will do little to help conservation efforts. It falls to those of us in rural climates, those of us who pride ourselves on our natural resources, to do what we can to stem the bleeding as best we can.

We are the stewards and caretakers of this world — the only world that we have.

It’s time we started acting like it.

Prepare For Winter Weather:

-- PUC Urges Pennsylvanians To Prepare Now For Winter Storms [PaEN]

-- Reuters: US Winter Storms Could Cause Power Outages, Cut Natural Gas Supplies

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboard - December 28:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - December 28 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 81 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 28 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboard - January 4:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - January 4 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Draft Guidance For Land Application Of Excess Water From Shale Gas Well Development Impoundments [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Jan. 30 Hearing [Not Jan. 28] On Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit For Monroe Energy LLC Trainer Refinery In Delaware County [PaEN]