Mexico Closes 17 Sawmills In Attempt To Protect Monarch Butterfly

[hatrack]

"Police and environmental inspectors have already closed down 17 sawmills to protect forests in Michoacan state, where the butterflies spend the winter. They have also confiscated more than 300 truckloads of wood from illegally felled trees and arrested 28 people.

The Monarch butterflies migrate south from the US and Canada every autumn to escape the cold north American weather. The sight attracts some 200,000 tourists every year who flock to the area in butterfly-watching season.

However, butterfly experts have warned that the long-standing problem of illegal tree-cutting in Mexico could end the Monarchs' annual journey if it is not stopped.

EDIT

Mexico's top environmental prosecutor, Jose Luis Luege Tamargo, said illegal loggers faced jail sentences of three to five years. However, prosecutors admitted that they were finding it difficult to combat the demand for illegally-harvested wood in the construction and furniture industries."

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3283761.stm

[nannygoat]

1. Thanks for the info, hatrack.

I saw a special on the Discovery channel this past summer about a group that is working with Mexicans to protect the Monarch:

www.monarchwatch.org

[BeFree]

2. Fall Migration

Saw my first Monarch 'Flutterby' migration this year.
Hundreds of the little boogers fluttering by on their way to Mexico.
Amazing that such a fragile creature could be up to the task of taking such a long and harrowing journey.

While we in America have a great deal to do to ensure a sustainable population of Monarchs, this Mexican forest sems to be the one place that keeps the population from collapsing.

Best of wishes to the Mexicans working to see that many more migrations take place.

Meanwhile, back here in the states, the planting of milkweed species will go along way to creating a sustainable habitat for the Monarchs.

[treepig]

3. well that's going be a complete exercise in futility

since everyone knows that genetically-modified crops are responsible for the demise of the monarch butterflies :silly: