Published: 02/09/2022

Dear friends,

The month of February is a month of reflection for many of us living here next to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. We are all concerned about the lack of rainfall. 

A healthy, dense and expansive forest creates its own micro-climate. Our oyamel fir forests are cloud forests really, capturing clouds as they roll in from the oceans. The forests act to store water on leaves and in the ground. Monarchs depend on available moisture. How is climate change impacting this micro-climate? We are worried that the answer is that change has not been for the good.

Michoacán State University has just announced recent articles regarding the impact of agricultural practices, specifically avocado production on soil health throughout the state of Michoacán. Michoacán is the main state in Mexico that produces and exports avocados.

These studies show that avocado plantations can reduce their adverse soil impacts if agricultural entities follow environmentally sustainable practices. Sustainable agriculture will considerably reduce pressure on our forests’ conservation while still providing needed jobs to many in our communities.

Monarch habitat conservation needs prompt and effective action to promote sustainable agricultural practices, especially the production of avocados. International collaboration is critical. The future of the oyamel fir forests as a habitat for overwintering monarchs depends on action. The oyamel fir forests are green gold. 

Estela Romero

Angangueo, Michoacán, México.

Note to our readers: This article has been edited from the original English version for clarity and readability.

Read the Spanish version of Estela Romero's letter»

*Fruit For Thought: If you would like to learn more about the expansion of avocado production, Journey North has collected just a few articles to inspire discussion. 

• Avocado Cover Expansion in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Central Mexico
• End of the avocado: why chefs are ditching the unsustainable fruit
• The avocado in your Super Bowl guacamole is bad for the environment. You can make it better