Avocado Cover Expansion in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Central Mexico

A total of 958 hectares within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) are now covered by avocado plantations, with the southern zone hosting the largest area (570 ha) and the northern zone showing the highest expansion rate (422%) between 2006 and 2018. This study identified avocado orchards through photo interpretation, analyzing topographic attributes such as elevation, soil type, slope, and aspect. Most plantations have replaced traditional agricultural lands, but deforestation accounted for 40 hectares, particularly in the central zone. The expansion threatens the overwintering habitat of monarch butterflies, potentially impacting their migratory phenomenon.

Sáenz-Ceja, J. E., & Pérez-Salicrup, D. R. (2021). Avocado Cover Expansion in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Central Mexico. Conservation, 1(4), 299–310. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation1040023