Recent Forest Cover Loss in the Core Zones of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico

A dramatic 98% reduction in large-scale illegal logging has occurred in the core zones of Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) between 2012 and 2018, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed aerial ortho-photographs and satellite images, validated with fieldwork, to quantify forest cover loss—totaling 163.44 hectares—with climate-related factors (rain and wind) accounting for the majority (125.44 ha), while illegal logging (both large-scale and small-scale) contributed significantly less (38.0 ha and 12.14 ha, respectively). The findings suggest that despite ongoing threats, forest loss in the monarch's winter habitat is not the primary driver of their population decline since 2010, which has been far more severe than expected.

Flores-Martínez, J. J., Martínez-Pacheco, A., Rendón-Salinas, E., Rickards, J., Sarkar, S., & Sánchez-Cordero, V. (2019). Recent Forest Cover Loss in the Core Zones of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00167