Community Conservation of Monarch Forest in Mexico

The recent cold snap in the monarch sanctuaries has saddened all of us at MBF but it only prompts us to redouble our conservation efforts. The final count of the butterfly mortality is not in yet and it may take time to gather all the needed data to make a determination, but we are hoping that the monarch’s resilience shines through. While anecdotal photos from the area indicate mortality, there are also videos of many monarchs flying. Also of concern is the large number of trees felled by the high winds during the storm. Our efforts are more needed than ever. Fortunately our tree nurseries around the area are fine.                                                                            

Our local partner Alternare continued working arduously with the local indigenous communities within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. During the first trimester, several workshops and activities were held, including four workshops to build cisterns in four communities with the participation of eleven women and forty one men; and two workshops on how to grow trees in two communities with the participation of eighteen women and twenty three men. The workshops resulted in the construction of six cisterns which will capture rainwater and the establishment of two school tree nurseries. As a workshop participant from Los Zapotes stated, “We are happy to involve our children in the nurseries now when they are young, so they can learn how important and beautiful trees are and just like trees they grow to value and appreciate nature’s beauty.”

MBF will continue striving to restore and conserve the overwintering habitat of the monarch butterflies and to improve the lives of the local communities. In this period of uncertainty with the recent snow storm, we are glad that we have people that truly care like YOU on our side! THANK YOU!

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The monarchs have arrived in Mexico! Our local partner Alternare and the indigenous communities that work with us eagerly welcomed them. Alternare’s work focuses on reducing the use of water and wood resources. To this end, during the last trimester of the year, six women and 11 men from local communities within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, participated in two workshops and built six fuel-efficient stoves for three families, two for the schools and one for a community. Additionally, 38 men participated in three workshops and built three school and four community cisterns that will be used by the communities at large. “The cisterns will help us capture rain-water which we will use for the entire community”, said a member of Donaciano Ojeda indigenous community enthusiastically while getting water from the cistern.

In preparation for next year’s reforestation we already have 4,300 new seedlings and 22,000 seedlings-in-growth in our 23 collective tree nurseries waiting for next summer!

MBF is delighted to make all this possible and contribute to forest conservation while improving the standard of living of the local communities. This will in turn benefit the overwintering habitat of the monarch butterflies. We couldn’t do it without your generous contributions!! Thank you!

Reports are sent to donors every three months but if you do not wish to receive them click on the unsubscribe link in this email or login to your GlobalGiving account and change your email preferences