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Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Mexico
Factors affecting the property in 2015*
  • Fire (widlfires)
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Illegal activities
  • Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
  • Land conversion
  • Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
  • Other Threats:

    Reported decline in the overwintering population of Monarch butterfly

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Illegal logging
  • Growth in human population
  • Tourism pressures associated with growth in visitor numbers and heavy concentration in specific areas
  • Agricultural advances
  • Forest fires
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2015
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2015**

January 2011: Joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2015

On 5 February 2014, the World Heritage Centre wrote to the State Party of Mexico requesting further information in relation to media reports that the 2013-2014 overwintering population of Monarch butterflies in the property had plummeted to cover an area of only 0.67 hectares, compared to its 1996-1997 peak of 18.19 hectares.

On 3 March 2014, the State Party replied, noting that the issue of the Monarch butterfly migration had been discussed at the February 2014 North American Leaders’ Summit, where a Trilateral High Level Working Group for the conservation of the Monarch butterfly migration was established.

On 9 and 26 February 2015 respectively, the State Party submitted a communication issued by SEMARNAT and an update on activities following the February 2014 North American Leaders’ Summit, where a Trilateral High-Level Working Group for the conservation of the Monarch butterfly migration was established.  On 27 February 2015, the World Heritage Centre requested the States Parties of Canada and the United States of America to provide additional information on the implementation of the measures following the trilateral agreement from the February 2014 Summit. The State Party of Canada responded on 15 April 2015. The United States of America sent on 20 April 2015 excerpts from the Pollinator Strategy Monarch Butterfly Conservation drafted on 29 March 2015.

The reports present the following:

  • The spatial coverage of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) population increased by 69% in 2014-2015 to 1.13 hectares;
  • The Trilateral High Level Working Group agreed on the roadmap for the development of a trilateral action plan to be delivered at the next North American Leaders’ Summit in late 2015;
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched a campaign to support Monarch conservation.
  • Long Point National Wildlife Area, Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area and Point Pelee National Park in Canada have been added to the “Trilateral Monarch Butterfly Sister Protected Area Network” to advance Monarch conservation;
  • In Canada, Monarch butterfly is categorized nationally under “species of special concern”, and a management plan has been developed;
  • Projects for 2015-2016, supported by Environment Canada, will aim to directly target Monarch butterfly conservation;
  • The State Party of Mexico also reports further progress in addressing illegal logging.

A trilateral meeting was held on 12 April 2015, and an update by the State Party of Mexico has been requested by the World Heritage Centre.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2015

It is recommended that the Committee express utmost concern at the reported decline in the overwintering population of Monarch butterfly in the property. Notwithstanding the 69% increase recorded in 2014-2015, the area covered remains significantly lower than the historical peak, and the second lowest since the monitoring started in 1993.

Considering the responses provided by the States Parties concerned, it is recommended that the Committee commend the States Parties for their considerable efforts to conserve the Monarch butterfly, including through the establishment of a Trilateral High Level Working Group. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party of Mexico to submit the trilateral action plan, once completed, to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, and to report on the outcomes of trilateral meeting held in April 2015 and the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit in late 2015.

It is noted with appreciation that the State Party reports continued progress in controlling illegal logging within the property. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.32, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party for an update on progress achieved with the implementation of the recommendations of the 2011 joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission.

Considering the significance of the Monarch butterfly migration as an outstanding natural phenomenon and the justification of the property’s inscription on the World Heritage List, it is recommended that the Committee request the three States Parties to provide, by 1 February 2016, a joint progress report on the activities undertaken, and the results achieved, to conserve the Monarch butterfly, and by 1 December 2016, a joint report on the state of conservation of the property for examination by the Committee at its 41st session in 2017.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2015
39 COM 7B.31
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico) (N 1290)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.32, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
  3. Expresses its utmost concern about the reported decline in the overwintering population of Monarch butterfly in the property, notwithstanding the increase recorded in 2014-2015;
  4. Commends the States Parties of Mexico, Canada and the United States of America for their considerable efforts to address the decline of the Monarch butterfly population, including through the establishment of the Trilateral High Level Working Group;
  5. Notes with appreciation the continued progress reported by the State Party in controlling illegal logging within the property, and requests the State Party to provide an update on progress achieved in the implementation of the recommendations of the 2011 joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission;
  6. Also requests the State Party to submit the trilateral action plan, once completed, to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN, and to report on the outcomes of the trilateral meeting held in April 2015 and the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit in late 2015;
  7. Further requests the State Party of Mexico, in consultation with the States Parties of Canada and the United States of America, to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, a progress report, and by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7B.31

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.32, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
  3. Expresses its utmost concern about the reported decline in the overwintering population of Monarch butterfly in the property, notwithstanding the increase recorded in 2014-2015;
  4. Commends the States Parties of Mexico, Canada and the United States of America for their considerable efforts to address the decline of the Monarch butterfly population, including through the establishment of the Trilateral High Level Working Group;
  5. Notes with appreciation the continued progress reported by the State Party in controlling illegal logging within the property, and requests the State Party to provide an update on progress achieved in the implementation of the recommendations of the 2011 joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission;
  6. Also requests the State Party to submit the trilateral action plan, once completed, to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN, and to report on the outcomes of the trilateral meeting held in April 2015 and the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit in late 2015;
  7. Further requests the States Parties of Mexico, Canada and the United States of America to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, a joint progress report, and by 1 December 2016, a joint updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
Report year: 2015
Mexico
Date of Inscription: 2008
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 39COM (2015)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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