"Join monarch butterfly conservation efforts to keep ecosystems thriving," Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times, Letter to the Editor: A Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner encourages residents to protect monarch butterflies, including by planting native milkweed.
Every summer, the skies over North America witness the remarkable journey of the monarch butterfly’s migration. These delicate creatures travel thousands of miles, from Mexico through the U.S. and into Canada, uniting nations through shared ecology and culture.
Every year, the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz invites residents across the continent to participate in protecting this iconic species.
This is a coordinated effort across North America to gather data on monarch butterflies and milkweed plants. By documenting our shared observations of monarch butterflies, community members get a chance to contribute to an international dataset that informs conservation efforts.
For me, as a commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, this initiative is a reminder of how environmental stewardship begins at the local level.
At MWRD, we champion green infrastructure efforts such as planting milkweed to mitigate flooding, protect water quality and create healthier neighborhoods.
Just as butterflies need corridors of milkweed to thrive, our communities need connected policies and practices that allow humans and nature to coexist and flourish. What’s powerful is that environmental damage can be restored by intentional public policy, community involvement and simple actions, like planting a native garden.
For environmental justice communities, the Monarch Monitoring Blitz is an opportunity not just to count butterflies but to reclaim a role in shaping an ecological future. Participation in community science is more than data collection. It’s a declaration that says, “We belong in this movement, and our voices matter in the conversation around conservation.”
As a child of Mexican immigrants, the monarch butterfly has been a symbol of the resilience and transformation of our community. The monarch is revered in Mexican culture, rooted in indigenous traditions that symbolize renewal and continuity.
Monarch butterfly conservation is a way of honoring transcending cultural traditions while also protecting the natural world sustaining them.
So what can you do?
- Plant native milkweed at home and available green spaces. Learn how to receive free milkweed seeds at mwrd.org.
- Celebrate the cultural significance of monarchs in our communities through art and storytelling, and join my upcoming annual monarch festival event Sept. 13 in North Riverside.
The monarch butterfly reminds us that resilience is possible with intention and cooperation. Let this summer be our monarch moment — when we choose to protect and transform our environment for ourselves and for those still to come.
Eira Corral Sepúlveda, Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago