Mexico's monarch butterfly reserve stops logging

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Mexico's monarch butterfly reserve stops logging

AP foreign, Wednesday August 15 2012

MARK STEVENSON

Associated Press= MEXICO CITY (AP) — Illegal logging has practically been eliminated in the western Mexico wintering grounds of the monarch butterfly, according to a research report released Wednesday, and Mexican officials now hope to use the successful program of anti-logging patrols and payments to rural residents to solve other forestry conflicts throughout the country.

The government, environmental groups and private donors have spent millions of dollars to get residents of forest communities in the butterfly reserve to plant trees and start ecotourism businesses to benefit from widespread fascination with the monarchs' yearly multi-generational migration through Canada, the United States and Mexico. They hope a similar solution can work for areas where illegal logging has caused armed conflicts and killings.

"This has been a successful program," said Environment Secretary Juan Elvira Quesada. "We want to keep expanding it."

It is the first time that logging has not been found in detectable amounts since the mountaintop forests west of Mexico City were declared a nature reserve in 2000, according to a study of aerial photographs of mountain reserve.

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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10393409

[Frustratedlady]

1. I've only seen a couple Monarchs, this summer...

They are like the bees...disappearing. Usually around this time of year, they cover some of my plants and build up strength for their migration. I saw one the other day...it was dead.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Good news, if it's not too late already.

Sad that people actually have to risk their lives to stop such destructive activities -- all because someone, somewhere, stands to make a profit.

[DCKit]

3. I've left as much milkweed standing as humanly possible at the family farm this summer....

and I've yet to see a single monarch caterpillar. In past years, they were easy to find - all sizes. Not a whole lot of the orange and black milkweed bugs, either.

I gave away all the pesticides and herbicides that were on the property last year, so it's not that.

If that changes, I'll post on it.