Reforestation Forum

MBF Co-sponsors Reforestation Forum, October 2009, Mexico

As MBF seeks to build on our reforestation efforts directed at the buffer and core zone areas of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR), we will promote collaboration among organizations and individuals committed to achieving positive benefits for the maintenance of overwintering habitat for the monarch butterfly (both directly and indirectly) and the social and economic livelihood of local communities.  

Last spring we made a commitment to obtain a better understanding of on-going and planned reforestation activities, and recognized the need to further engage with other organizations currently involved in reforestation to assess what is being achieved and to identify additional needs and opportunities. One possible method we considered to achieve this assessment was a forum. 

In cooperation with Reforestamos A.C. Mexico and the non-profit organization LCHPP-Inc., we co-organized a reforestation forum October 1-2, 2009, in Mexico at Casa Humboldt, in Tuxpan, Michoacan. The forum is referred to as the "Dialogue between Civil Society Organizations for the Forests of the Monarch Butterfly Region, Michoacan, Mexico."

The objective of the forum was to start a dialog among different institutions that share common activities in the conservation of the monarch butterfly, mainly in the field of reforestation.  The main objective was to share information and ideas, identify common activities in order to promote or implement (1) more effective reforestation programs, (2) restoration or conservation of forest ecosystems in the MBBR or around the MBBR, and (3) establish partnerships for developing a strategic plan and activities to produce an implementation plan and recommendations.

Other participants in the forum included the following: PRONATURA A.C., National Commission for the Protection of Naturals Areas (CONANP), Albergue Shalom, A.C. and BIOCENOSIS, A.C. (Región Monarca).

The following list includes some activities that the forum participants would like to pursue in the future, and the Position Statement of the forum can be found here:

• Establish an annual Operational Plan for the MBBR 
• Build economic support for sustainable forest management
• Sensitize stakeholders to the importance of the environment
• Report on corruption and organized crime.
• Search efficiency in reforestation and economic welfare of people
• Use environmental education, school participation, plant production in reforestation programs
• Increase partnerships 
• Form an advisory group for the MBBR, represented by NGOs, schools, scientific groups and social groups.
• Publish research papers and make them accessible to the public
• Share experiences and research work 
• Create and update a web page for information sharing
• Join forces to market Certified Wood
• Seek new strategies to establish a balance between communities and NGOs
• Change perspectives in land use, fauna and hydrology
• Facilitate communities self-sufficiency in management
• Designate the MBBR as the auditor of activities in the reserve
• Develop and implement training programs (reforestation, conservation, ecotourism) aimed at landowners, ejidatarios, farmers and communities

Future Challenges:

• Integration of the different communities in the process:  39 landowners and 16 ejidos in the core zone
• Lack of upper management continuity
• Effect of climate change in the forest structure - insects infestation
• Monitor forest cover
• Management of natural and criminals forest fires
• Conflicts among institutions

MBF is particularly interested in collaborative projects that capitalize on the strengths and abilities of each of the participating groups to leverage greater results than would be achieved if the groups worked independently.  Multi-year projects are of interest and would be supported provided that satisfactory progress is reported annually.