How you can help save the monarch butterfly -- and the planet | Mary Ellen Hannibal

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Monarch butterflies are dying at an alarming rate around the world — a looming extinction that could also put human life at risk. But we have just the thing to help save these insects, says author Mary Ellen Hannibal: citizen scientists. Learn how these grassroots volunteers are playing a crucial role in measuring and rescuing the monarch’s dwindling population — and how you could join their ranks to help protect nature. (You’ll be in good company: Charles Darwin was a citizen scientist!) The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a Media Request here: Follow TED on Twitter: Like TED on Facebook: Subscribe to our channel: