The number of monarch butterflies reaching their wintering grounds in central Mexico this year may be three or four times higher than the previous season, authorities said on Thursday.
U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Mexican Environment Secretary Rafael Pacchiano visited a monarch reserve in the state of Mexico where they cited initial reports suggesting the butterfly population was rebounding.
The population of orange-and-black butterflies making the 3,400-mile (5,500-kilometer) migration from the United States and Canada has declined in recent years before recovering slightly last year, when they covered about 2.79 acres (1.13 hectares).
During her visit, Jewell also hiked into the mountains to see the trees where the monarchs roost.
Jewell said the United States is working to reintroduce milkweed on about 3 million hectares within five years, both by planting and designating pesticide-free areas.
Milkweed is the plant the butterflies feed and lay their eggs on, but it has been decimated by herbicide use in the United States.
And Mexico still has problems.
Illegal logging more than tripled in the monarch butterflies' wintering grounds last year, reversing several years of steady improvements
The number of monarch butterflies reaching their wintering grounds in central Mexico this year may be three or four times higher than the previous season, authorities said on Thursday. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Mexican Environment Secretary Rafael Pacchiano visited a monarch reserve in the state of Mexico where they cited initial reports suggesting the butterfly population was rebounding.The population of orange-and-black butterflies making the 3,400-mile (5,500-kilometer) migration from the United States and Canada has declined in recent years before recovering slightly last year, when they covered about 2.79 acres (1.13 hectares).During her visit, Jewell also hiked into the mountains to see the trees where the monarchs roost.Jewell said the United States is working to reintroduce milkweed on about 3 million hectares within five years, both by planting and designating pesticide-free areas.Milkweed is the plant the butterflies feed and lay their eggs on, but it has been decimated by herbicide use in the United States.And Mexico still has problems. Illegal logging more than tripled in the monarch butterflies' wintering grounds last year, reversing several years of steady improvements
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