Conservation Efforts for Monarch Butterflies

A concerted effort is underway to protect monarch butterflies, which are facing threats from climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use. Researchers propose planting oyamel trees at higher elevations in Mexico to provide a more stable environment for the butterflies during their winter migration. This innovative 'assisted migration' approach relies on statistical models to determine appropriate planting locations, based on where monarchs have previously been observed. Despite the promising survival rates of newly planted trees, there remains uncertainty about whether the butterflies will successfully adapt to these new locations as climate change progresses.