The National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) reported that the presence of the Monarch butterfly in Mexican hibernation forests increased by 99 percent in the winter of 2024-2025, compared to the forest area occupied in the previous season due to better weather conditions during migration.
Pedro Álvarez-Icaza Longoria, head of Conanp, stressed that “researchers indicate that the increase in occupation of the Monarch butterfly is encouraging compared to the previous season. This increase was mainly due to more favorable weather conditions – with a less intense drought – in the 2024 migration compared to that of 2023.”
This was revealed in the results of the 2024 – 2025 season carried out by Conanp and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), during their stay in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (RBMM).
Forest area occupied by Monarch butterfly colonies in Mexico from 1993-1994 to 2024-2025.
Álvarez-Icaza Longoria highlighted that 8 Monarch butterfly colonies were recorded this season: 3 in Michoacán and 5 in the State of Mexico, which occupied a total of 1.79 hectares (ha) of forest. Three colonies were located within the RBMM with 1,217 ha and five outside it with 0.574 hectares.
The largest colony (0.998 ha) was recorded in the El Rosario ejido, Michoacán, and the smallest colony (0.002 ha) was located in San Andrés, in the Azufres sanctuary, also in Michoacán. The colony in Atlautla, State of Mexico, adjacent to the Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park and outside the Monarch Region, occupied 0.098 hectares.
Jorge Rickards, general director of WWF in Mexico, explained how the estimated surface area of Monarch butterflies is obtained, highlighting the participation of local communities and the three levels of government with WWF in the delimitation of the surface area, monitoring and tours in the Sanctuary where the colonies of lepidopterans are established within the Protected Natural Area (ANP).
“We recognize the key role of local communities, as well as the support of the Mexican government to conserve the forest and give this iconic species the opportunity to thrive,” said Jorge Rickards. “Now is the time to turn this increase into a lasting trend, uniting the efforts of all sectors to safeguard critical habitats along the Monarch migratory route in North America.”
On the other hand, Gloria Fermina Tavera Alonso, General Director of Conservation of Conanp, thanked the Advisory Council of the RBMM, director and staff of this ANP, Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park and the Nevado de Toluca Flora and Fauna Protection Area, for the collective effort of the actions for the conservation of the Monarch butterfly hibernation habitat in Mexico.
The actions carried out include combating illegal logging and forest fires, dealing with pests, tourism planning, sustainable entrepreneurship and environmental education, and these help to address the main threats to the Monarch: the use of herbicides, changes in land use and climate variations in the breeding sites.
The RBMM protects 56,259 hectares and its core area includes 13,554 ha where the main hibernation colonies of the butterflies that migrate to Mexico from eastern North America are established. In addition, the good condition of these forests allows the capture of water for the Cutzamala System that provides water to more than 5 million people in Mexico City and its Metropolitan Area. These forests are also important reservoirs of the country’s biodiversity.
Source: aristeguinoticias
