Forest land-cover trends in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, 1994–2017

Despite economic incentives to protect the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, forest cover has not significantly recovered since 1994. A comparison of orthophotographs from 1994 and high-resolution satellite images from 2017 revealed only a 2% increase in forest area, while deforested areas expanded by 5% in the core zone. The study highlights that consensus among agrarian communities is crucial for effective conservation on socially owned lands. This research underscores the challenges of balancing economic incentives with environmental protection and community agreement.

López-García, J., Navarro-Cerrillo, R. M., & Manzo-Delgado, L. d. L. (2022). Forest land-cover trends in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, 1994–2017. Environmental Conservation, 49(4), 244–254. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0376892922000327