Community Conservation of Monarch Forest in Mexico

Alternare and seven communities are wrapping up this year's summer reforestation! Their original plan was to plant approximately 40,000 trees in 36 hectares in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and so far, they are right on track! They have already planted 35,000 trees and will plant more to complete 40 hectares, 4 more than the originally planned!

The pest and disease prevention program that Alternare is developing in collaboration with the Reserve's Directorate is also going well. As we mentioned in the previous report, this project trains people in techniques to apply products that repel insects such as bark beetles to trees and monitor them. People are learning that to be able to control pests successfully it is necessary to add these techniques to traditional knowledge that include tree felling and extraction.

During the past four months, eight workshops to build rain-capturing cisterns were held with the participation of 36 women and 48 men. Eight cisterns were built, benefiting 82 families. One of the women told us, “This community cistern has taught us the importance of drafting agreements among ourselves to get organized and use water efficiently.”

Additionally, other workshops to learn about the perceptions to the impacts of climate change among women are being developed. Durante this period eight workshops were held with 45 women and 4 men.

Thanks to YOU, MBF continues to support Alternare and the local communities who are learning and growing at the same time the forest is healing.

MBF really appreciates having you as a conservation partner!