An experiment in central Mexico aimed to grow new forests that could provide winter habitat for migrating monarch butterflies, combating the decline in population due to the loss of their natural habitat. The researchers planted hundreds of oyamel fir saplings at higher altitudes than their usual habitat, with around 70 percent of the saplings surviving for at least three years.
Conservation biologist Karen Oberhauser notes the importance of such measures, as failing to assist organisms in adapting to changing environments can lead to the loss of critical ecosystems. Monarchs face a precarious situation, as the oyamel fir forests they hibernate in are at risk due to climate change projections that suggest the trees will vanish by 2090.
Forest geneticist Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero proposes relocating forests to higher elevations to help the trees and butterflies survive. His team collected oyamel fir seeds from the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and planted them at different elevations, finding that the saplings survived better in cooler, higher altitudes. While the idea may seem far-fetched, the need to move forests to adapt to climate change is pressing.
The experiment showed promising results, with fir trees surviving well at higher elevations despite being smaller than usual. The success of the project presents the potential for the trees to thrive in different locations in the future. However, challenges such as gaining community and government support, as well as ensuring the butterflies can find the new habitats, still need to be addressed for the project to be successful.
The team’s findings suggest that monarch butterflies are likely searching for colder places, indicating that the higher-altitude forests could attract them during their winter migration. While the fictional scenario of walking trees may not be applicable, the real-life effort to move and establish new forests for the survival of monarch butterflies is critical in ensuring their long-term survival. Ultimately, these innovative conservation efforts serve as a beacon of hope for the preservation of biodiversity in the face of climate change.
