Community Conservation of Monarch Forest in Mexico

With MBF’s support, Alternare held five workshops on diverse topics such as participatory planning, community water management, construction and management of cisterns. A total of 50 people from indigenous communities and ejidos participated. Three cisterns were built benefiting 110 personas. Currently, reforestation planning for this summer is underway. Through Alternare, MBF continues supporting local communities to promote forest conservation and reforestation in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.

A woman from Crescencio Morales indigenous community told us how happy she was with the cistern she built with her family and said “We use the water from the cistern to drink, wash our dishes, take showers and give to our animals. We see that it really benefits us a lot.”

MBF and Alternare can do this thanks to your support and for that we are deeply grateful!

Not only did MBF’s local partner Alternare manage to reforest 23.6 hectares during the summer, but  also facilitated two workshops titled “Construction and management of fuel-efficient stoves" to 10 women. The training workshop resulted in the construction of nine stoves benefiting nine families. Additionally, four men and four women participated in a workshop on how to build cisterns resulting in the construction of three cisterns.

MBF is starting the new year with an exciting online event! On Jan 27, 2021 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada), we are holding a special online webinar titled Monarchs in Mexico, People Care! with first-hand accounts of monarchs wintering in Mexico, given by individuals who study and work to save them. Guadalupe del Rio, Alternare’s President, will describe how her organization works with local communities on sustainable development and forest conservation.

Register at:

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KEmmS0c7SSaf3syrhTCz_g

If the link doesn't take you to the registration page please copy and paste in your browser.

MBF and Alternare are committed to improve the well-being of local communities that live near the monarch region and conserving the monarch butterfly’s migratory phenomenon. Your support to work towards this goal is invaluable! THANK YOU!

Around 500 women, men, and children from nine local communities planted 21,040 trees on 23.6 hectares! Due to the physical distancing requirements necessary to comply with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, each group reforesting averaged 25 people all wearing personal protective gear. An additional 10 hectares were reforested with 8,000 trees in Carpinteros indigenous community to restore the forest under their care as indicated by the forest management plan of the MBBR’s buffer zone. Everything ran smoothly and we’re happy to report that no one has tested positive for COVID-19.

Don Pedro’s statement about not letting the virus stop them from reforesting turned out to be true. Following up with him, he remarked “I told you we would manage and thanks to the parents and teachers who kindly watered the trees in the nurseries when schools closed down, our trees were in great shape and will continue doing so until the pandemic ends.”

Additionally, we built four fuel-efficient stoves and nine cisterns to capture rainwater in four communities.

MBF and Alternare are committed to keeping people safe and we have managed to do so, keeping people employed and dedicated to the conservation of the overwintering forests.

We thank you, our devoted supporters for helping us keep our commitment to the people, the forests, and the monarchs! We couldn’t do this without you.

Despite challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, Alternare and the local communities are ready to start the 2020 reforestation. Their plan is to plant approximately 24,000 trees on 20 hectares. Planning meetings on the locations to reforest were held in April and May following proper social distancing. Since schools are closed, teachers continued to water the trees in the nurseries so they are ready for the reforestation.

Instructors are in constant communication with the 300 families we are working with this year. Communities are eager to start! As Pedro from Crescencio Morales Indigenous Community told us, “A virus will not stop us! As long as we follow all the regulations our government has given us by wearing masks and keeping our distance from each other we will manage.”

We join Pedro in his enthusiasm to keep planting trees for the monarchs. Both MBF and Alternare are committed to keeping people safe. Our mission is to improve the monarch’s overwintering forests and the quality of life of the local population. This can only be achieved if people are employed and continue being stewards of the forests they own. Your donations make all this possible, especially now when the whole world is feeling the economic pangs that COVID-19 has brought to all of us.

 THANK YOU!

Monarchs are busily fluttering about the overwintering colonies in Mexico and Alternare is joining in all the excitement and joy of having them visit Mexico! Alternare and the local communities ended 2019 with one workshop to build a cistern for the Nicolás Romero community and started the planning process for the 2020 reforestation by keeping up with the maintenance on their school and community tree nurseries.

Although it may seem early to start thinking about planting trees, communities are thinking ahead and are inspired by the monarchs flying about around their properties. “We have to think not only of this year but of the future so that butterflies always find shelter in our forests,” said one of the community planners.

We’re starting off the year on the right foot. MBF thanks YOU for supporting our efforts to ensure the conservation of the forest habitat and the well-being of the local communities!