Arbor Day Foundation Joins Forces with International Paper and L’Oréal USA to Restore Critical Monarch Butterfly Habitats

Alongside corporate partners International Paper and L’Oréal USA, the Arbor Day Foundation announced a partnership with the Land Life Company supporting reforestation efforts for critical Monarch butterfly habitats in Estado de Mexico, Mexico. This partnership supports efforts to replant and restore degraded areas of the "Zona Nucleo," the breeding ground for the Monarch.

"We are grateful to partners like International Paper and L’Oréal for their commitment to restoring the forest ecosystems that provide the necessities of life for both wildlife and local communities," said Dan Lambe, president, Arbor Day Foundation.

Each year, millions of Monarchs migrate to this area to spend winter among the Oyamel trees, fir trees that protect the butterflies from seasonal rain and cold. However, areas of Zona Nucleo require restoration due to illegal logging and wildfires. Land Life Company works alongside CONAFOR (Mexican Ministry of Forestry), CONANP (Ministry of Protected Natural Areas) and the World Wildlife Fund to restore degraded forest land, protecting the Monarch's habitat for generations to come. This initiative also engages local communities that rely on the forest for their livelihoods, water, and food. These communities play a critical role in patrolling Monarch nesting grounds to prevent illegal logging.

The Monarch butterfly is an important pollinator that contributes to the health of our planet. However, due to climate change and loss of habitat, especially in Mexico and California, its population has fallen by more than 80 percent since the mid-1990s. The Arbor Day Foundation is pleased to be playing a leading role in this partnership, supporting reforestation of the wintertime habitat for pollinating Monarch butterflies.