Historic Milestone: 100,000 Native Trees Planted to Safeguard the Monarch Migration

Butterfly Pavilion, in collaboration with the Government of Mexico and local community partners, has completed a historic reforestation project, Preservation of Critical Overwintering Habitat for the Migratory Monarch Butterfly in Central Mexico, to restore the wintering habitat of the migratory Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).

Between July and September 2025, 100,000 native Oyamel fir trees (Abies religiosa) were planted across 32 reforestation sites in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, one of the most critical ecosystems in North America. These new forests will serve as safe winter sanctuaries for millions of Monarchs that migrate up to 3,000 miles each year from Canada and the northern United States to central Mexico.

“Completing this reforestation marks a historic milestone for Monarch conservation,” said Shiran Hershcovich, Lepidopterist Senior Manager at Butterfly Pavilion. “This large-scale restoration has united communities, scientists, and governments across borders to protect one of nature’s most extraordinary migrations. Every tree planted represents a promise to the Monarchs and to future generations.”

Why This Project Matters

The Monarch migration is one of the world’s most remarkable natural phenomena and one of its most at risk. In the last three decades, Monarch populations have declined by nearly 80 percent due to habitat loss, deforestation, and climate change.

The Oyamel fir forests of central Mexico, which provide the cool, moist microclimate Monarchs need to survive the winter, have been reduced to less than five percent of their original range. In recent winters 2024–2025, Monarch colonies occupied only 0.9 hectares of forest, the second-lowest number ever recorded. Scientists estimate that at least six hectares of suitable habitat are required to sustain the species.

By planting 100,000 native trees in degraded areas, Butterfly Pavilion and its partners have begun rebuilding this essential forest canopy, strengthening local ecosystems, stabilizing the microclimate Monarchs depend on, and protecting biodiversity for generations to come.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Proposed Ruling: Why It Matters More Than Ever

In December 2024, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced a proposed rule to list the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. This decision underscores the urgency of ongoing, coordinated conservation efforts across North America.

If Monarch butterflies are officially designated as threatened, it would activate critical federal protections to help safeguard their survival. Large landowners and developers would be required to work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service before undertaking any activity that could significantly impact Monarch habitats. It would also become illegal to intentionally or negligently harm or kill Monarch butterflies or to import or export them without permits.

Certain allowances would remain, such as exceptions for agricultural practices like the removal of milkweed, the Monarch caterpillar’s primary food source, when necessary for farming operations. Even so, these proposed measures represent a vital step toward reversing population declines and ensuring that this iconic species has the chance to recover and thrive.

Butterfly Pavilion’s completion of its large-scale reforestation in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve could not be timelier. By planting 100,000 native Oyamel fir trees across 32 sites, this project directly supports the same conservation goals outlined in the proposed federal ruling: restoring habitat, protecting migration corridors, and safeguarding pollinators that sustain ecosystems across borders.

Project Achievements

“Standing in these restored forests today, it is clear that our collective efforts matter,” said Hershcovich. “Each Oyamel fir we planted strengthens the delicate chain that keeps the Monarch migration alive. This work gives hope that with continued collaboration, this remarkable journey will endure.”

Education and Community Impact

This project is not only restoring habitat but also cultivating stewardship. In Mexico, 20 school-based pollinator gardens now serve as hands-on learning environments where students learn about Monarch biology, pollinator conservation, and sustainable forest management.

In the United States, Butterfly Pavilion invites families, schools, and community scientists to take action through the Monarch Magic Pledge, planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly plants, and by joining the Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network, which collects vital data to protect local species.

Global Collaboration in Action

This achievement demonstrates what is possible when conservation transcends borders. The project, Preservation of Critical Overwintering Habitat for the Migratory Monarch Butterfly in Central Mexico, was made possible through a grant from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Grant Fund and realized through collaboration among government agencies, nonprofits, and community partners.

Partners

This collaboration embodies the mission of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE program, which unites accredited zoos and aquariums across North America to protect species through science, education, and community engagement.

The Importance of Monarchs

Monarch butterflies are far more than symbols of beauty. They are powerful pollinators that sustain ecosystems across North America. During their annual migration, they carry pollen between flowers, aiding plant reproduction and supporting countless other species that rely on those plants for food and shelter.

As sensitive indicators of environmental health, Monarchs reflect the broader challenges facing our planet, from climate change to habitat loss. Protecting their migration means protecting the balance of nature itself. Immediate and collaborative conservation action is essential to prevent the collapse of this extraordinary migration.

Cultural and Ecological Significance

The loss of the Monarch migration would not only be an ecological tragedy but a cultural one. For generations, the migration has symbolized endurance, renewal, and connection, values deeply rooted in the traditions of communities across North America, particularly in Mexico.

Each autumn, Monarch butterflies arrive in central Mexico around the beginning of November, coinciding with Día de los Muertos. In Mexican tradition, their arrival is seen as the return of the souls of departed loved ones, a reminder of the connection between life, memory, and the natural world.

Beyond their spiritual and symbolic importance, Monarchs also sustain local economies. Ecotourism centered around the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve brings meaningful income to communities in the region, reinforcing the idea that protecting Monarchs also protects people, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.

What Comes Next

Butterfly Pavilion and partners will continue monitoring the newly planted forests to ensure healthy growth, support additional habitat restoration, and expand education and engagement programs that inspire long-term community stewardship.

The restored forests will stand as a living legacy of international cooperation and a testament to what is possible when people work together to protect the natural wonders that sustain life on Earth.

Get Involved

Join us in Mexico to see these amazing butterflies: Learn More

Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project

Butterfly Pavilion houses corals for the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project to maintain genetic diversity necessary for wild coral restoration efforts.

The Florida reef tract is a 360-mile stretch of coral reef ecosystems forming the third largest barrier reef in the world, and the only living barrier reef in North America. It is America’s barrier reef. Barrier reefs serve important ecological functions as nurseries for fish and storm barriers for coastal habitats.

Coral reefs are delicately balanced and when the corals themselves die the consequences are often huge. Like a rainforest without trees, the other animals are forced to move on now that they are unable to support themselves in the barren landscape of coral skeletons.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

In 2014, the northernmost tip of the Florida reef tract located off the coast of Port St. Lucie, FL, experienced a small outbreak of a new and unknown disease. This disease, now called Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), was quick to spread throughout the different coral species along the reef.

As it spread it was found that once a coral was infected it had almost a 100% chance of dying. Global issues like climate change, pollution, and other factors take a heavy toll, weakening habitats and making corals more susceptible to infection.

In four years the SCTLD disease has spread over a 100 miles southward, impacting over 20 different species of reef building corals and reducing their abundance by 50-90%.

The Coral Rescue Effort

In response to the disease crisis, multiple government agencies came together to form the Florida Coral Rescue Team. This team went on to develop a revolutionary Coral Rescue Plan.

The plan required the removal of healthy coral specimen, lovingly dubbed ‘reef-ugees’, of the most susceptible species from places still untouched by the disease and placing them in land-based ‘arks’. The goal was to save as many ‘reef-ugees’ as possible to ensure these species wouldn’t be brought to the brink of extinction.

In 2018, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) was invited to support this rescue operation. Of the 236 zoos and aquariums accredited by AZA, only 22 facilities have been accepted as coral holders. Butterfly Pavilion, having the necessary invertebrate expertise, is one of those facilities accepted as a holder for the project.

Butterfly Pavilion’s Role

In early 2019, Butterfly Pavilion committed to having a system ready to receive coral by early 2020. Since then, we have created an exhibit capable of supporting these essential animals.

As the only facility in Colorado currently committed to holding coral, we are excited to house these ‘reef-uges’ at our facility and tell their story to our guests and members!

Colorado Fireflies

Did you know that Colorado has native fireflies? Most people are unaware of this due to light pollution and development destroying their habitat. Learn about Butterfly Pavilion’s initiative to conserve these small yet mighty animals and how you can do your part!

As firefly populations decline at alarming rates, Butterfly Pavilion is working to understand how to rear and conserve native fireflies through its Firefly Lifecycle Project.

Fireflies—bioluminescent beetles found in small, localized wetland habitats across Colorado—play an important role in their ecosystems. They act as predators of invertebrates like snails and earthworms and serve as prey for birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Their presence is also an important indicator of healthy wetland environments.

However, firefly populations are under threat due to habitat loss, water pollution, and increasing light pollution. To better protect these species, Butterfly Pavilion researchers have been studying their lifecycle and environmental needs since 2017.

Research & Rearing Efforts

Each summer, researchers collect a small number of adult fireflies under permit from wild populations in Colorado. These adults are brought back to Butterfly Pavilion, where they are carefully bred and monitored in controlled conditions.

Their eggs develop into larvae, which are raised in specialized lab environments. Researchers closely manage factors like moisture, food, and habitat conditions to better understand what triggers development from larva to pupa and ultimately to adult fireflies.

This process is incredibly complex—breeding fireflies under human care has only rarely been accomplished in the United States and remains a major scientific challenge.

Key Milestones

These milestones represent a critical step forward in understanding and conserving native firefly species in Colorado and beyond.

Why It Matters

Fireflies are more than just a magical part of summer nights—they are a key indicator species for wetland health. Their survival reflects the overall condition of ecosystems, including water quality and biodiversity.

By studying and successfully rearing fireflies, researchers can better understand their full life history and develop science-based conservation strategies. This work may eventually support restoring populations and protecting critical wetland habitats.

Butterfly Pavilion’s long-term goal is to establish sustainable, genetically diverse populations and contribute to large-scale restoration efforts, while also educating communities on how to protect firefly habitats—such as reducing light pollution and limiting pesticide use near wetlands.

Become a Community Scientist!

There is a lack of scientific research about fireflies, so we need your help! Become a community scientist and help Butterfly Pavilion track firefly populations around Colorado. Download and print out this datasheet and take it out into the field with you to collect sighting information.

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Have you seen fireflies in Colorado? We want to know where! Submit your sighting below!

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Public Locations for Firefly Viewing

Some parks are not open late enough for visitors to see fireflies during public hours, however, they may host guided walks to view fireflies after hours. Please respect the posted hours of all parks and check with them in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Firefly Facts

What are fireflies and why do they flash?

Fireflies are beetles in the family Lampyridae. Like other beetles, fireflies have six legs, two eyes, two antennae, a pair of wings, and a hard exoskeleton to protect their body. There are over 2,000 species of fireflies across the world. However, in Colorado fireflies exist in small populations dispersed throughout the state. Fireflies flash to find mates. Flashes are like a language for fireflies. Species have their own unique flashing patterns to recognize each other.

How do they flash?

Fireflies flash using bioluminescence. A chemical reaction takes place inside their light-producing organs. When oxygen is exposed to certain chemical compounds inside the organs, the reaction produces light. Not all fireflies flash as adults. There are three types of fireflies: flashing fireflies, diurnal fireflies, and glowworms. The diurnal (active during the day) fireflies do not flash as adults, though they may emit some light. Glowworms may flash or emit a constant glow. The fireflies that we refer to as “lightning bugs” are the nocturnal flashing fireflies.

What is their habitat?

Fireflies live near fresh water. They are often found near creeks, ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes, and even hot springs. They are commonly seen in forests, fields, and meadows near these sources of water. During the mating season, flashing females tend to wait on vegetation while the males fly, so wetland areas with low vegetation are popular.

What do they eat?

Larvae eat a variety of prey items, though some specifically eat soft bodied invertebrates such as earthworms, slugs, and snails. Some species don’t eat at all as adults, while others are predaceous. Females in the Photuris genus even mimic the flashing patterns of females in the Photinus genus to draw in males to eat them. Some adults consume nectar from plants and may act as pollinators.

How do they survive in winter?

Fireflies hatch from eggs in July through August then develop into larvae. The larvae are voracious predators and develop through multiple instars (stages of development). They protect themselves from freezing winter temperatures by sheltering in the ground or under tree bark.

Fireflies in Colorado

Which species are in Colorado?

We truly aren’t sure! A handful of species have been positively identified in Colorado; however, we lack scientific research about the exact species for many of the population. More research is needed to identify the firefly species in Colorado and their ranges.

Where can you see fireflies in Colorado?

Firefly sightings have been reported across the Front Range and in Western and Southeastern Colorado. Look for open spaces with wetlands. The flashing fireflies can be seen around late June through July when the nights in Colorado begin to warm up. They typically start flashing after 9:00pm.

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Why are fireflies important?

Fireflies are beloved for their unique light shows, but they also serve important ecological roles. They act as pest control for their prey species such as snails and slugs. They act as food for wildlife such as toads, frogs, newts, birds, and spiders. Some species which eat nectar and pollen may even act as pollinators.

How can we protect fireflies?

Fireflies are threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use and light pollution. You can protect firefly habitat by:

How can I get involved?

Become a community scientist and help Butterfly Pavilion track firefly populations around Colorado.