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Forest loss and degradation is the principal threat facing the integrity of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Using Google Earth, you can see directly the loss that occurred from 1986 to 2006 (instructions below).
The loss of forest has direct negative consequences for the local and regional butterfly populations as well as for tourism, thus putting its impact at both a national and international scale. Some of the consequences include:
- Reduced water storage by aquifers and watersheds.
- Reduced carbon sequestration.
- Reduced oxygen production.
- Increased soil loss due to erosion.
- Reduced economic incentives for conservation.
- Changes in microclimate (greater fluctuations in temperature and humidity).
- Loss of habitat for a variety of important plants and animals
- Loss of hibernating habitat for the monarch butterfly
The loss of forest cover affects the monarch butterfly primarily in that fewer trees means less protection against harsh winter temperatures, storms, rain and snow that can cause high mortality rates in the population. Such conditions and their impacts on the butterflies also reduce the number of tourist visits and their economic benefit for the communities in the Reserve. During the past years, the rate of forest loss has increased (Figure 1).
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Figure 1. Increase in the loss and degradation of the forest cover in the core zone of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. |
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Documentation of forest lost and degradation
See the following reports:
Forest changes in 1986, 2001, 2006
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recently made public the Atlas of our Changing Environment ( http://na.unep.net/digital_atlas2/google.php ), where one can view changes forest cover in the Monarch region since 1986.
Using the Atlas, one can see directly what the forest looked like in 1986, 2001, and most recently in 2006.
To locate where deforestation has occurred, download limits of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Google Earth format. The boundaries are not exact, but give a good idea of the location of the core and buffer zones of the Reserve.
Location of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (The core zone is in red and the buffer zone in yellow in the 2006 satellite image. The UNEP icon gives the 1986 and 2001 images.)
The principal changes have occurred and continue to occur in: 1. Bald Summit (southern zone), districts: Nicolás Romero, where fires and illegal logging are leaving the Summit truly bald (site 1).
2. Bald Summit (southern zone), districts: Nicolás Romero, where illegal logging continues (site 2).
3. Chivatí Huacal (western zone), districts: San Cristóbal, Emiliano Zapata, El Asoleadero, San Felipe Los Alzati, Curungueo, where the 1986 burn zone has still not recovered. Illegal logging continues in this zone (site 3).
4. Sierra Campanario (central zone), districts: Ejido Francisco Serrato, Comunidad Indígena Francisco Serrato, Ejido El Rosario y Ejido Crescencio Morales (site 4).
5. Sierra Campanario (eastern zone), district: Ejido Crescencia Morales (site 5).
6. Sierra Campanario (eastern zone), district: La Mesa (site 6).
7. Sierra Campanario (eastern zone), district: El Rosario (site 7). 8. Sierra Campanario (eastern zone), district: Las Rosas (site 8).
9. Sierra Chincua (northern zone), district: Federal property, Cerro Prieto (site 9).
10. Sierra Chincua (northern zone), district: Hervidero and Plancha (site 10). 11. Sierra Chincua (northern zone), district: unidentified property (site 11).
If you would like to see the sites and forest cover change firsthand using Google Earth, follow these simple steps:
1. Download Google Earth (free version) at http://earth.google.com if you do not already have it.
2. Open Google Earth on your computer and select “ Selected Contents ” among the layers on the left of the screen.
3. Download the position marker “UNEP site” (attached) that has the UNEP icon with the title Angangueo.
4. Select the UNEP icon and include in your Google Earth the satellite images:
- 14 March 1986
- 31 March 2001
Currently Google Earth has images from February and March 2006 for the entire region. It is therefore possible to observe directly the changes that have occurred in the region for the last 20 years.
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