Monarch Butterflies on tree branch in blue sky background, Michoacan, Mexico
Status
Protected
2022

Save Mexico’s Biodiversity Stronghold

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Project Overview

The highly vulnerable Monarch Corridor contains dense tropical forests, home to threatened Jaguars, parrots and frogs.

  • Species at Risk

    6 species

  • Carbon stored

    44,816,160 mT*

    *(metric tons of CO2 equivalents)
  • Partner

    Pronatura Noreste

  • 1,372,671 Proposed Acres Conserved by

    Designation

  • Project Cost: $778,556
Mexico
Proposed Acres

1,372,671

Project Overview

The highly vulnerable Monarch Corridor contains dense tropical forests, home to threatened Jaguars, parrots and frogs.

  • Species at Risk

    6 species

  • Carbon stored

    44,816,160 mT*

    *(metric tons of CO2 equivalents)
  • Partner

    Pronatura Noreste

  • 1,372,671 Proposed Acres Conserved by

    Designation

  • Project Cost: £566,715
Mexico
Proposed Acres

1,372,671

Project Update

Safeguard threatened mountains in Mexico

In the last decade alone, Mexico’s Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range has lost more than 88,000 acres of forests. Of the land outside federal or state-protected areas in the region, more than 85% of the forests have been cleared for agricultural and livestock use. These unsustainable activities are a constant threat to the rich variety of ecosystems within the Sierra Madre.

To prevent any more destruction, Rainforest Trust and our local partner Pronatura Noreste are working to safeguard a 1,372,671-acre protected area of the “Monarch Corridor” within this mountain range, so named because critical migratory routes of the Monarch butterfly converge here.

Did you know?

85%

of land outside existing protected areas has been cleared.

Explore Mexico

Monarchs gather in the Monarch Corridor, by Pronatura Noreste
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Monarchs gather in the Monarch Corridor, by Pronatura Noreste

Red-crowned Amazons
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Endangered Red-crowned Amazons

Yellow-headed Amazon, by Francis Canto
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Yellow-headed Amazon, by Francis Canto

Mammillaria carmenae
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Critically Endangered Mammillaria carmenae

Monarchs gather in the Monarch Corridor, by Pronatura Noreste
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Monarchs gather in the Monarch Corridor, by Pronatura Noreste

Monarchs gather in the Monarch Corridor, by Pronatura Noreste
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Monarchs gather in the Monarch Corridor, by Pronatura Noreste

Landscape of the Monarch Corridor, courtesy of Pronatura Noreste
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Landscape of the Monarch Corridor, courtesy of Pronatura Noreste

Landscape of the Monarch Corridor, courtesy of Pronatura Noreste
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Landscape of the Monarch Corridor, courtesy of Pronatura Noreste

Landscape of the Monarch Corridor, courtesy of Pronatura Noreste
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Landscape of the Monarch Corridor, courtesy of Pronatura Noreste

Protect a corridor for rare species

The Monarch Corridor boasts high levels of biodiversity and endemism because it contains habitat ranging from desert and sub-montane shrublands to tropical forests.

The proposed protected area intersects four Key Biodiversity Areas and will provide a fundamental corridor for 281 bird species, including the Yellow-headed Amazon (EN) and Maroon-fronted Parrot (EN). The Red-crowned Amazon (EN) also resides in the site, whose populations have declined by over 75% in 30 years due to poaching and habitat loss.

In addition, 132 mammal species will also benefit from this protection, including the magnificent Jaguar as well as 45 amphibians, 142 reptiles (109 of which are endemic) and over 4,000 plant species—including the Critically Endangered cactus Mammilaria carmenae and Endangered Mesoamerican Yew.

Support a network of protection

The new reserve will be part of a larger strategy to ensure conservation and connectivity between protected areas in the region, including the neighboring 1,853-acre Rainforest Trust-supported Regalo de Dios Voluntary Conservation Area (declared August 2019).

Your support of this project will allow our partner to work with local communities to develop a management plan, monitor the protected area, engage them in environmental education activities and encourage sustainable agricultural practices.

100% of your money goes to our conservation efforts

Our board members and other supporters cover our operating costs, so you can give knowing your whole gift will protect rainforests.

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