Monarch of the ex-Glen?

The news that increased logging is threatening the Monarch Biosphere Reserve is disconcerting (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/12/wildlife.climatechange). Around a million Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) overwinter in a very small area of evergreen Mexican forest after an impressive migration from eastern Canada of around 4500 km. These insects die even when 'their' trees (they return to the precise trees that their direct ancestors left before migrating north) are left in place, if reducing the surrounding cover causes temperatures to drop too low. This development is disappointing given the legal protection that was put into place for this World Heritage Site's creation in 1986. A little local activity by 'logging mafias' can effectively drive a wide-spread and 'figure head' species to extinction! It looks as if ways of convincing locals of the benefits of these butterflies will have to be intensified. The photo is of a Canadian fritillary rather than a Monarch but loss of any butterfly species would be a real loss!