Bill > S03163

This bill establishes the Monarch Preservation Plan, requiring the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to take active steps to conserve monarch butterflies and their migration habitats within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill recognizes the severe decline of monarch butterfly populations, which have dropped by approximately 90% since 1990, from about one billion to just 35 million butterflies, due to factors such as habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and invasive species. The DEC is authorized to undertake various conservation actions, including habitat restoration on state-owned lands, creating educational programs, and forming voluntary agreements with private landowners. The bill specifically outlines five key strategies for monarch butterfly conservation: restoring native milkweed and nectar plant habitats, controlling non-native weeds and pests using low-risk management practices, minimizing harmful pest management techniques, developing winter habitats with diverse tree species and microclimate considerations, and expanding partnerships to create monarch butterfly habitats in residential, agricultural, transportation, and conservation areas. The goal is not only to protect monarch butterflies but also to support broader pollination ecosystems and agricultural services.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3163