The iconic monarch butterfly has an extraordinary migration pattern, flying from Canada all the way to Mexico to rest and lay eggs in the oyamel fir trees in the hills of Estado de México. But decades of logging and changing weather patterns have put the survival of this species under threat. In fact, last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to protect the monarch under the Endangered Species Act. The disappearance of the oyamel forest has far-reaching impacts on not only this key pollinator but on the health and water quality for more than 6 million people. It’s why we worked with CONAFOR (Mexican Ministry of Forestry) and CONANP (Ministry of Protected Natural Areas), the local community, and World Wildlife Fund to plant in degraded areas. In an encouraging report, the eastern monarch butterfly nearly doubled in 2025. This is hopeful news, but their overall population remains well below the long-term average. It’s why restoring and protecting oyamel fir in this vulnerable region is more pressing now than ever.
