A Unique Conservation Opportunity
California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV), located entirely within the Priority #1 Action Zone for western monarch butterfly conservation, is important for season-long early breeding and nectaring habitat during the western monarch’s migration.
The San Joaquin Valley is also one of the most productive agricultural regions in the U.S. However, the area faces the retirement of up to a million acres of farmland to manage groundwater overdraft. This creates a unique opportunity to develop habitat that supports monarchs and other at-risk native pollinators, and create resilient agriculture in a transitioning landscape.
It's estimated that up to 1,000,000 acres of agricultural land will be fallowed, retired, or repurposed in the San Joaquin Valley by 2040.
The San Joaquin Valley is located within Priority #1 early breeding zone for the western monarch.
Partner Coordination and Implementation
San Joaquin Valley Focus
Leverage landscape changes and existing land repurposing projects to incorporate monarch habitat. Photo: Kaweah Oaks Preserve (Austin Fontanilla)
Increasing Monarch Habitat
Work with researchers and practitioners to clarify habitat principles and priority native plant species for monarch habitat enhancement.
Multidisciplinary Partnerships
In alignment with existing conservation and research efforts, collaborate across disciplines and sectors to magnify our impact on the landscape.
Collaborators
The Collaborative’s overarching mission is to implement the 5 year SJV Western Monarch Conservation Strategy. The Collaborative is composed of subgroups, or Action Teams, designed to leverage the various types of expertise among partners, and to identify and execute key tasks and actionable items that support the implementation of the Strategy. Check out the current list of collaborators and see more details below on the mission of each Action Team.
Action Teams
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee will serve as the guiding body of the SJV Western Monarch Collaborative by stewarding the Collaborative’s high-level program vision, prioritizing product needs of the Action Teams, supporting cross-Team Collaboration, and reviewing outputs of Action Teams.
Habitat Implementation and Coordination
Develop and implement monarch habitat projects in the SJV to improve rearing and nectaring opportunities and conditions.
Research and Monitoring
Support research and dissemination of information in the SJV by identifying research needs, engaging in collaborative monitoring efforts, and promoting ongoing research and monitoring.
Landowner Incentives
Increase landowner engagement and access to incentivization programs by increasing transparency around funding availability and needs, developing recommendations for landowner incentivization, and supporting landowners in the adoption of conservation actions.
Native Plant Materials
Improve native plant material availability for implementers, with a focus on improved volume, pricing, and ecotype availability to the extent reasonable, while helping stabilize the native plant and seed supply chain.
Communications
Lead and manage external communications to diverse audiences about conservation actions happening through the Collaborative in the SJV, highlighting engagement opportunities, products, and work coming from the Action Teams.
The Collaborative’s overarching mission is to implement
the 5 year SJV Western Monarch Conservation Strategy, which was developed in collaboration with Collaborative partners. Each year the Collaborative provides work plan updates and other products developed by the various Action Teams. Click on the links below to view the Strategy and other relevant documents.
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San Joaquin Valley Western Monarch Conservation Strategy: A Five-Year Plan for Success (January, 2026)
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2025 Work Plan - Annual update on work accomplished through the Collaborative
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Letter of Intent - Commitment of participating
organizations to improve monarch habitat conditions
in the San Joaquin Valley through participation in the Collaborative
Highlights
