In a recent update, the EPA announced that Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly has been removed from its Vulnerable Species Action Plan (VSAP), a rebranded version of last year’s Vulnerable Species Pilot Program. This change represents a significant win for Oregon’s agriculture and forestry sectors.
Last year, Oregonians For Food and Shelter (OFS) took a leading role in advocating for adjustments to the EPA’s proposal. The original pilot plan would have designated over 800,000 acres of agricultural and forestry land in the Willamette Valley as "avoidance areas," banning pesticide applications to protect the Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly. However, the scientific data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not support the designation of these areas as critical butterfly habitats.
OFS provided a detailed response to the EPA's proposal, focusing on the lack of evidence that the butterfly was actually present in many of the areas that would have been restricted. The Oregon Farm Bureau and other stakeholders also raised concerns about the economic impact on farming and forestry, as well as the contradictory guidance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife recommending the use of herbicides in managing the butterfly's habitat.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of Oregon’s agricultural and forestry communities, the EPA has acknowledged these discrepancies, and Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly has been excluded from the current plan. While the VSAP still includes other vulnerable species, none of them are found in Oregon at this time.
This is a significant victory for the agriculture and forestry sectors in Oregon, ensuring that producers in the state can continue their essential work without unnecessary and unfounded restrictions.
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