Mexico, 15 mar (EFE).-Mexico noted a reduction in the number of hectares occupied by the butterfly monarch during his last hibernation forests in the Centre of the country, today reported the national natural protected areas, Commissioner Luis Fueyo.
As the latter monitoring during the 2011 season – 2012 were located 10 colonies of hibernation, they occupied 2,89 hectares of forest in Michoacan and the State of Mexico (Center of the country), representing a decrease of 28 per cent on the 4,02 hectares of the previous year.
Press Conference, Fueyo stated that this reduction was caused by the drought and the variation in rainfall during the autumn of 2011, coinciding with the migration period of this insect, which runs thousands of kilometres from United States and Canada to Mexico forests in search of best climates.
Recalled that over the past 19 seasons were documented wide fluctuations of occupation of the colonies with a maximum value of 18.9 HA in 1996 and a valued minimum of 1.92 hectares in 2009.
The official explained that forest area occupied by the colonies is used as an indicator of the population reaches Mexico every year, instead of numerical estimates, which can induce to error.
In addition, indicated that this season was “particularly unique” because ten colonies registered, five were placed outside the margins of the Natural Reserve of the biosphere of the monarch butterfly, three of them in the State of Mexico and two in Michoachán.
While it emphasized that the five established colonies outside barely occupied 0.52 hectares, compared to the 2.37 hectares of the interior, opted to boost conservation strategies at the edges of the reservation that they prevent similar situations in the future and ensure their survival.
Fueyo clarified that the monitoring is carried out fortnightly in those places where the colonies of the monarch, calculating the perimeter of their colonies and analyzing data with a system of spatial analysis were historically located.
Also pointed out that the conservation of this insect is an issue that not only corresponds to Mexico, but also United States and Canada, where reproduces and, in his view, the control of the use of insecticides and other chemicals affecting the butterfly is necessary.
For his part, the director of the Fund World of nature for Mexico (WWF), Omar Vidal, pointed out that, in addition to the changes in the climate, such as drought intense and the lack of rain, the use of these herbicides affect plants which feed on the larvae and accentuate the butterflies mortality during migration.
Therefore stated that both “Canada as United States have to do much more to conserve the monarch butterfly in their areas and Mexico should not drop its guard”.
Also, it supported with the State of Michoacán and Mexico negotiate more favourable conditions to ensure the preservation of those colonies that lie outside the margins of the reserve and advanced approaches with authorities in “the coming days” to look for a long-term commitment in this regard. EFE
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