"Living in the time of the butterfly:" Engaging more-than-human temporalities to rethink biodiversity conservation

Indigenous Jñato and Hñähñu (Mazahua and Otomi) peoples' ecological narratives challenge linear conceptions of time, revealing cyclical multispecies temporalities that operate through reciprocal relations between humans, plants, water spirits, and witches. This study, conducted over multiple years through historical and ethnographic research in Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, demonstrates how 'deep time' perspectives—rooted in Indigenous knowledge—can enrich biodiversity conservation by centering relational, more-than-human political ecologies. The findings highlight the power-laden nature of these temporalities, embedded within complex political economies and uneven knowledge production, which the authors term 'the time of the butterfly.' This work urges conservation scholars to reconsider epistemological assumptions about time and the Anthropocene, offering a framework that integrates Indigenous worldviews with ecological practice.

González-Duarte, C., & Méndez-Arreola, R. (2024). “Living in the time of the butterfly:” Engaging more-than-human temporalities to rethink biodiversity conservation. Journal of Political Ecology, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.2458/jpe.5015