Orange, black, and a little bit of white is the new shade of conservation: the role of tourism in Monarch Butterfly Conservation in Mexico

Tourism and conservation are intricately linked in the management of Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, where annual visitor influxes to witness monarch butterfly overwintering present both opportunities and challenges. An ethnographic study revealed that current tourism infrastructure—including trails, signage, visitor management, and educational strategies—effectively mitigates anthropogenic impacts while enhancing conservation efforts. The research highlights the need for refined strategies to balance ecological protection with immersive visitor experiences, offering actionable recommendations to sustain this iconic protected area.

Lemelin, R. H., & Jaramillo-López, P. F. (2019). Orange, black, and a little bit of white is the new shade of conservation: the role of tourism in Monarch Butterfly Conservation in Mexico. Journal of Ecotourism, 19(4), 291–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2019.1656726