The US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a
press release on Monday that details a tragedy many are unaware of: the
monarch butterfly has been nearly wiped out. A major reason this is
happening? A product from Monsanto called Roundup.
Roundup destroying milkweed
First marketed in 1973, Roundup
eradicates weeds and allows commercial crops to grow unmolested. The
main ingredient is Glyphosate, and despite widespread use all over the
world, its effect upon humans, other animals and the environment is
still debated. Crops are genetically modified by Monsanto to become
Roundup Ready; modified, they can survive Roundup — weeds cannot.
Roundup is used heavily by agricultural
producers, homeowners and governments. Due to such heavy use, Monsanto's
Roundup is eradicating milkweed. The vast destruction of milkweed
creates a problem for the monarch butterfly, because milkweed is its
main food source.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife press release said
there once were as many as one billion monarchs in the U.S. but that
number has dwindled by 90 percent. No milkweed, no monarch.
Andrew Kimbrell, executive director for
the Center for Food Safety, finds the situation "shameful." "This report
is a wake-up call," Kimbrell said.
"This iconic species is on the verge of
extinction because of Monsanto's Roundup Ready crop system. To let the
monarch butterfly die out in order to allow Monsanto to sell its
signature herbicide for a few more years is simply shameful.”
Fight to save Monarch butterfly
The press release from the Wildlife
Service indicates they are not going to allow the monarch to become
extinct. The Service is partnering with the National Wildlife Federation
in a new funding initiative and in launching a Monarch Butterfly
Conservation Fund.
A website has been created for the public to learn about the plight of the monarch and how they can help.
The Service is immediately providing $2
million in funding and intends to get groups and individuals to help
with planting native milkweed and nectar plants, again giving monarchs a
food source in areas they have dwindled in or disappeared from. Land
has been targeted on which to again grow the plants the monarch
butterfly needs.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/environment/monarch-butterfly-endangered-monsanto-product-zaps-900-million/article/426115
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