Thanks to Blake School for the translation of this report into English. This message was written by two scientists who work for Mexico's National Institute of Ecology. Benigno Salazar M is a biologist who helps to implement the conservation program described here. Jose Luis Betancourt C. is a rural sociologist. His job is to study the economic needs of the people in the communities that surround the monarch reserves.
To: Journey North
From: Jose Luis Betancourt C. and Benigno Salazar M
Hello, students. Greetings from Angangueo.
To start we would like to give a brief explanation of the origin of the reserves, which were created to protect the butterflies. Since the discovery of the hibernation sites, different organizations have taken the responsibility of protecting this habitat. In 1986, a federal law was passed in Mexico protecting 16,110 hectares (a hectare equals 2.47 acres) of habitat divided in to five different reserves. They are named: Cerro Altamirano, Sierra Chincua, Sierra El Campanario, Cerro Chivati-Huacal, and Cerro Pelon. Each reserve is comprised of a nuclear zone where cutting trees is strictly prohibited, and a buffer zone, which surrounds and protects the nuclear zone.
Currently, the National Institute of Ecology administers the reserves. They have a team of biologists, foresters, and sociologists who work in the reserves and with the communities surrounding the reserves. During the five months that the monarchs can be found hibernating in the reserves, this team, of which we are a part, monitors the status of the butterflies. Since the arrival of the butterflies at the end of October and beginning of November, we have experienced some very unique weather patterns. There were frequent rains, hail storms and freezing temperatures. These conditions had a significant impact on the butterflies' behavior as they were establishing their hibernation sites. As a result, the butterflies did not permanently settle into their sites until the first week of December. This was very late for them. In previous years, they have usually settled in by the second week of November. This year, four out of the five colonies they formed can be found within the reserves. One colony is located outside of the five reserves, near Cerro Chivati-Huacal.
On December 31st, a heavy snow fell in three of the reserves (Rosario, Chincua and Pelon), beginning at 7:30 A.M. and not stopping until 6:30P.M. Two days after this, the weather returned to normal. The day after the snowfall, many butterflies could be found buried in the snow. However, some were chilled but not frozen to death and with a little warmth of the sun on the second day after the snowfall, they were able to fly. Exact figures for the number of deaths among the butterflies is not yet established. There have been estimates as high 30% and others as low 7%. The research is still not finished. What we do know is that the mortality will more than likely depend on the thickness or density of the trees in the Oyamel forests, since it is the trees that help protect the butterfly from freezing temperatures.
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