monarch's story is one of nature's greatest survival stories. Monarchs
defy our imagination as they migrate to Mexico, find their winter
home by instinct, form colonies by the millions, and survive all
winter while eating little or nothing at all. Yet, above all, competition
with people over use of the forest is the greatest challenge to
the monarch's survival in Mexico. Simply put:
need the forest
Scientists know that monarchs survive
the winter in Mexico only because the climate of the forest matches
the butterflies' needs exactly.
are also using the forest
Over 90,000 people live in
the monarch butterfly sanctuary region. People take wood from
the forest in legal and illegal ways.
are no easy answers!
People and butterflies are competing
for the same resources. Finding ways to balance these needs presents
a challenge to the local, national and world communities.
Dr. Lincoln Brower, Sweet Briar College
Look at Land Use
for ways that butterflies and people are using the forest.