About Us


In undertaking our work in Mexico, MBF embraces a transparent philosophy of flexibility, open
mindedness, and sensitivity to the cultural and economic realities of the region.

Mission:

To foster the conservation of North American Monarch butterflies and their migration through habitat restoration, research, monitoring, education and support for sustainable community development in and near the monarch overwintering areas in Mexico.

Vision:

Healthy ecosystems and sustainable communities that preserve North American Monarch butterflies and their spectacular migration in perpetuity.

The Monarch Butterfly Fund is the result of a merger between the Michoacán Reforestation Fund (MRF) and the Monarch Butterfly Sanctary Foundation (MBSF). MRF was established as a non-profit organization in 1997 by Robert L. Small ("Bob"), a retired administrator specializing in land use issues. With his Bob's help, Jose Luis Alvarez, a successful Mexican nurseryman and owner of Vivero La Cruz, created the La Cruz Habitat Protection Project (LCHPP-Mexico), a project committed to reforestation and promoting sustainable forest management in the buffer zone of the Reserve, in the highlands of Michoacán, Mexico.
 

Larva (Caterpillars) Photo by Karen Oberhauser

Milkweed- Photo by Karen Oberhauser

Fall Migration

Spring and Summer Migration

Monarchs Nectaring

Overwintering Monarchs

Monarcca Descansando Vico.jpg

Main Reserve - Orientation Map

Helicopter View of Rosario Colony

A View of the Volcanic Peaks

Chincua Aerial

The Refuge Location in Mexico

Massive Clusters of Monarch Butterflies

Rivers of Monarchs

Exploding Cluster

Oyamel Branch Clusters

StormJan2002_MortalityClose.jpg

Col-Chincua(4)

Chapel Crescencio Morales.JPG

Burn Chincua

Campanio Chincua

Campesinos

Cerro Antenas from Donaciano Ojeda

cerro cacicque from top of pelon

Cerro Cacique from Curungueo

Cerro Pelon from Donaciano Ojeda

Community Carpinteros

Community Carpinters b

Deforested Cresencio Morales from Donaciano Ojeda

Deforested Cresencio Morales from Donaciano Ojeda

el paso forest

el paso forest2

elpasofores3

elpasoforest

hand with peas

Iglesia Chincua

Iglesia Ejido Chincua

Img_0066.jpg

Img_0233.jpg

Irrigation Water Donaciano Ojeda.JPG

Img_0280

logging pelon

logging pelon2

logging pelon3

logging pelon4

logging pelon5

monarca_isabel

monarcas.jpg

Mountain Crescencio Morales

Ocampo Cuna de la Mariposa Monarca

pea farming in crescencio morales.JPG

Pine Seedlings Donaciano OjdeaB

Pine seedlings Donaciano Ojeda

Poster PROFEPA

Larva (Caterpillars) Photo by Karen Oberhauser
Milkweed- Photo by Karen Oberhauser
Fall Migration
Spring and Summer Migration
Monarchs Nectaring
Overwintering Monarchs
Monarcca Descansando Vico.jpg
Main Reserve - Orientation Map
Helicopter View of Rosario Colony
A View of the Volcanic Peaks
Chincua Aerial
The Refuge Location in Mexico
Massive Clusters of Monarch Butterflies
Rivers of Monarchs
Exploding Cluster
Oyamel Branch Clusters
StormJan2002_MortalityClose.jpg
Col-Chincua(4)
Chapel Crescencio Morales.JPG
Burn Chincua
Campanio Chincua
Campesinos
Cerro Antenas from Donaciano Ojeda
cerro cacicque from top of pelon
Cerro Cacique from Curungueo
Cerro Pelon from Donaciano Ojeda
Community Carpinteros
Community Carpinters b
Deforested Cresencio Morales from Donaciano Ojeda
Deforested Cresencio Morales from Donaciano Ojeda
el paso forest
el paso forest2
elpasofores3
elpasoforest
hand with peas
Iglesia Chincua
Iglesia Ejido Chincua
Img_0066.jpg
Img_0233.jpg
Irrigation Water Donaciano Ojeda.JPG
Img_0280
logging pelon
logging pelon2
logging pelon3
logging pelon4
logging pelon5
monarca_isabel
monarcas.jpg
Mountain Crescencio Morales
Ocampo Cuna de la Mariposa Monarca
pea farming in crescencio morales.JPG
Pine Seedlings Donaciano OjdeaB
Pine seedlings Donaciano Ojeda
Poster PROFEPA

Col-Chincua(4)
Iglesia Chincua
Community Carpinters b
logging pelon5
Pine Seedlings Donaciano OjdeaB
logging pelon3
Main Reserve - Orientation Map
Helicopter View of Rosario Colony
Milkweed- Photo by Karen Oberhauser
Oyamel Branch Clusters
Img_0280
StormJan2002_MortalityClose.jpg
Deforested Cresencio Morales from Donaciano Ojeda
cerro cacicque from top of pelon
hand with peas
A View of the Volcanic Peaks
Monarcca Descansando Vico.jpg
el paso forest
Img_0233.jpg
Cerro Pelon from Donaciano Ojeda
pea farming in crescencio morales.JPG
monarca_isabel
Cerro Cacique from Curungueo
Mountain Crescencio Morales
logging pelon2
Irrigation Water Donaciano Ojeda.JPG
Campanio Chincua
monarcas.jpg
el paso forest2
The Refuge Location in Mexico
Exploding Cluster
Burn Chincua
Spring and Summer Migration
Rivers of Monarchs
elpasoforest
elpasofores3
Overwintering Monarchs
Monarchs Nectaring
Larva (Caterpillars) Photo by Karen Oberhauser
Pine seedlings Donaciano Ojeda
Chincua Aerial
Iglesia Ejido Chincua
Ocampo Cuna de la Mariposa Monarca
Cerro Antenas from Donaciano Ojeda
Poster PROFEPA
logging pelon4
Fall Migration
logging pelon
Community Carpinteros
Campesinos
Deforested Cresencio Morales from Donaciano Ojeda
Chapel Crescencio Morales.JPG
Massive Clusters of Monarch Butterflies
Img_0066.jpg

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