Forests for Monarchs: Restoring Forests Along a Migration Route

Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles across North America to the mountains of central Mexico. Guided by instinct, they return to the same forests generation after generation, gathering in oyamel fir and pine forests that provide the shelter and microclimate they need to survive the winter. These forests are part of one of the most remarkable migrations in the natural world - and they are deeply connected to the health of the land and the communities around them.

When our founder, José Luis Álvarez, moved back to Mexico, what he saw shocked him. Forests that had once covered the mountainsides had been reduced to scattered patches. Decades of forest clearing had left many slopes degraded. Soil quality was declining, springs and watershed areas were under pressure, and communities were feeling the effects of a changing landscape. José Luis knew he had to do something.

He began by collecting native tree seeds by hand and starting his own tree nursery in Michoacán. What started as a direct response to forest loss became Forests for Monarchs in 1997-a long-term effort to help conserve monarch butterfly winter habitat while supporting surrounding communities in creating sustainable livelihoods through good forest stewardship.

That work begins every year with seed collection. Native oyamel fir, pine, cedar, and cypress seeds are gathered and grown in our nursery into healthy seedlings. Once ready, those trees are donated to indigenous communities, ejidos, and landowners committed to reforestation. Together, we restore degraded land in and around the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, as well as the Highland Lakes Watershed region, where forest loss has impacted both biodiversity and critical freshwater resources.

We use a community forestry approach rooted in partnership and long-term stewardship. Communities help identify priority areas, plant the trees, and continue caring for them over time. We also partner with schools and university students through environmental education and hands-on field experience so the next generation is connected to both forestry and conservation.

Over the years, this shared work has grown into lasting impact. Forests for Monarchs has planted more than 14 million native trees across central Mexico, restoring thousands of hectares of degraded land. More than 10,000 volunteers have joined restoration efforts, hundreds of communities have partnered in this work, and more than 90% of our nursery staff are women whose leadership and experience are central to growing the native trees that make restoration possible.

The results can be seen across the landscape: restored forests, healthier watersheds, improved biodiversity, and stronger habitat for monarch butterflies and many other migratory and endemic species.

For us, this work is about more than planting trees. It is about restoring forests along a migration route, protecting an irreplaceable natural wonder, and supporting communities as long-term stewards of the land for generations to come.