Trends in Deforestation and Forest Degradation after a Decade of Monitoring in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico

From 2001 to 2012, conservation efforts significantly reduced large-scale illegal logging in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, from 731 hectares affected annually to none by 2012. However, small-scale logging persists as a growing concern. The study used aerial photographs, satellite images, and field surveys to monitor forest cover changes, revealing that 2,179 hectares were deforested or degraded during this period, with illegal logging being the primary driver. While enforcement by Mexican authorities and financial support for alternative income generation proved effective against large-scale threats, regional socio-economic challenges remain critical to the reserve's long-term protection, essential for safeguarding the monarch butterfly's overwintering colonies.

VIDAL, O., LÓPEZ‐GARCÍA, J., & RENDÓN‐SALINAS, E. (2013). Trends in Deforestation and Forest Degradation after a Decade of Monitoring in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. Conservation Biology, 28(1), 177–186. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12138