Conservation of Monarch Butterfly Habitat in Mexico

The Applied Conservation Division, in collaboration with the Zoological Society of San Diego's Education and Merchandising departments, continues its efforts to promote sustainable resource use in and around monarch butterfly overwintering reserves in Mexico.

In 2004, Applied Conservation participated in the first Monarch Butterfly Regional Forum, which coordinated all interested parties in the region in order to define problems and develop solutions. There was broad attendance at the meeting, including the World Wildlife Fund, federal, state, and local governments, and a wide spectrum of local and international conservation NGOs (non-governmental organizations). Collaborations were developed to help design policies for curbing illegal logging, promoting ecotourism, and facilitating management of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Progress was made in gathering data about illegal logging through overflights of the reserve and surrounding areas. Detailed information was collected through a comprehensive monitoring and mapping effort and brought to the public's attention via the Internet and collaborations with other organizations. Applied Conservation staff developed outreach materials for a second set of overflights that gave biologists, reserve staff, and local leaders the opportunity to view forest destruction firsthand from the air. These materials have helped reinforce concepts importnat to slowing illegal logging and creating collaborations within communities.

The Zoological Society of San Diego is committed to working with other conservation organizations and the government of Mexico to stop the illegal logging that destroys butterfly wintering habitat and negatively affects the long-term sustainability of ecotourism for the local community. Applied Conservation was able to make several small grants to local conservationists to purchase radios to facilitate communication with law enforcement agencies.

The Society's gift shops continue to offer pine-needle baskets produced by the local women's collective in the community of San Juan Xoconusco. These baskets are made from pine needles collected from the forest floor and meticulously woven into intricate mats, baskets, and vases. In this way, the Society is supporting economically the sustainable use of these pine forest habitats, which provide an income to the community. This is both environmentally sound and fully compatible with butterfly habitat conservation goals.

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Stories from the Field: Monarch Butterfly Update