Monarch Butterfly Conservation Perspectives
Shifting Priorities in Monarch Conservation
By Jordi Honey-Rosés

April 14, 2004

In the last ten years the debate on Monarch butterfly conservation in Mexico has evolved considerably. In the 1990’s, the discussion often pitted conservationists against the local campesinos in a struggle over how best to use or protect the forest resource. Monarch butterfly conservation in Mexico was cited to illustrate the conflict between human needs and the protection of a species habitat: where local farmers pressured to continue logging and conservationists sought permanent protection of the Monarch’s habitat.

Today, even the most casual observer would see a much different story. Now conservationists and many local campesinos are united and working together for the same objective: to stop the illegal logging. Thus, the dichotomy between conservation vs. human needs is increasingly loosing its relevance in the Monarch overwintering area.

The local communities do not benefit from the illegal logging. When timber is unfairly stolen from them, the profits never reach the owners of the timber. The beneficiaries of the timber trafficking are few, and mostly living above the law and outside the region. In response, the Ejidos and Indigenous communities have written letters to the management of the protected area, local officials, and WWF seeking help to stop the illegal loggers. The agrarian communities are also organizing local watch groups and renting heavy machinery to build huge ditches that obstruct road access to their forest, and thereby prevent logging trucks from entering. Meetings are being held weekly to discuss where the illegal logging is taking place and what can be done locally to stop it.

The alliance between the local people, conservation organizations, and some key members of the Mexican government is a significant step forward in Monarch butterfly conservation and marks a major difference from the type of discussions held in Mexico several years ago.

To illustrate this, last March 23rd-25th the Monarch Butterfly Regional Forum concluded that the illegal logging is a top priority in the Monarch butterfly protected area. The Forum consisted of a three-day conference that brought together the different institutions supporting monarch butterfly conservation in Mexico. Participants in the Forum divided into nine thematic working groups: Protected Area Management, Environmental Education, Tourism, Land Use Planning, Rural Development Projects, Research, Forest Inventory, Law Enforcement, and an International Working Group, who were each charged with identifying thematic and geographic priorities.

The Working Group on Law Enforcement had the highest number of participants and included the participation of many important government officials, such as the Director of Protected Area system (CONANP) in Mexico. Local campesinos were able to openly discuss their confrontations with the illegal loggers. In addition to the Working Group on Law Enforcement, the International Working Group also concluded that the illegal logging should be given the top priority. The sentiment in the International group was so strong that it was decided to draft a short declaration:

“As the International Group of the Monarch Butterfly Regional Forum we declare that stopping the illegal logging is the maximum priority.
We have the responsibility to document and report the logging when it occurs. If the forest disappears, it will be difficult to justify the support with human and financial resources in the area of the monarch butterfly, including research. We request that this declaration denouncing the illegal logging be disseminated to various governmental institutions, the media, national and international Fora as well as the President of the Republic (Mexico).” March 25th 2004, Valle de Bravo, Mexico

The Forum was also remarkable for what was not said. Unlike the 1997 Morelia Conference, there were no requests by the communities to increase the logging in the core area, or even to remove the protected area as it currently stands. This change in priorities by the local inhabitants is a remarkable turnaround given that for years the protected area has fought to gain legitimacy and acceptance in the region.

Unfortunately, it only takes a few willing workers, intimidation, and unprotected forest plots to continue the illegal deforestation. So clearly, halting the illegal logging will not be an easy task. Nevertheless, a new consensus that immediate action must be taken to stop this short-term threat has been emerging among conservationists in Mexico. These short-term activities must be balanced with other long-term strategies that can address the driving forces behind the deforestation. Still, the recently formulated consensus has clearly identified illegal logging as the primary threat that needs attention now.

Writing Prompts for Your Science Journal
  • Write a summary of the piece above in your own words.
  • What used to be considered the conservation challenge for the over-wintering sites in Mexico? How have views changed today?
  • What are the local people doing to stop illegal logging? List examples.

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