The Last Butterfly

9/11/2018

In this opinion piece from The New York Times, the author discusses the decline of monarch butterflies and the crucial role that milkweed plants play in their survival. The article emphasizes the importance of planting milkweed to help sustain the declining population of monarch butterflies, as it is the only plant on which they lay their eggs and their caterpillars feed on. The author highlights the alarming decrease in milkweed availability due to factors such as urbanization and the use of herbicides, outlining the negative impact on the monarch butterfly population. The piece serves as a call to action, urging readers to take steps to conserve and protect milkweed to save these iconic butterflies.

ecosystem services ꞏ environmental science ꞏ environmental awareness ꞏ environmental crisis ꞏ habitat loss ꞏ species conservation ꞏ insect conservation ꞏ nature conservation ꞏ native landscapes ꞏ species at risk ꞏ milkweed plants ꞏ wildlife conservation ꞏ ecological research ꞏ ecological balance ꞏ environmental sustainability ꞏ environmental protection ꞏ plant ecology ꞏ gardening ꞏ natural habitats ꞏ insect decline ꞏ wildlife habitats ꞏ pollinators ꞏ sustainability ꞏ native plants ꞏ plant-pollinator interactions ꞏ ecological importance ꞏ ecological resilience ꞏ ecological restoration ꞏ monarch butterflies ꞏ habitat restoration ꞏ endangered species ꞏ environmental impact ꞏ environmental education ꞏ ecological connections ꞏ environmental stewardship ꞏ biodiversity ꞏ environmental advocacy ꞏ plant conservation ꞏ conservation efforts ꞏ natural resources ꞏ insect populations ꞏ conservation ꞏ butterfly migration ꞏ gardening for wildlife ꞏ plant diversity ꞏ wildlife corridors ꞏ climate change ꞏ ecosystem balance ꞏ nature preservation