The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in the Mexican state of Michoacan is one of the first areas in the country that will be protected by the Environmental Police.
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Rafael Pacchiano, minister of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), committed to that task. He said that the environmental police as well as the specialized group on environmental protection in Michoacan and the Armed Forces seek to ensure that natural areas are kept as spots for increased knowledge, recreation and sustainable development.
After signing the agreement o implement the Proaire program, aimed at improving air quality in the state, Pacchiano praised the newly founded association. This association seeks to halt illegal logging, trafficking in wildlife and intrusion on protected natural areas.
Pacchiano reiterated the commitment of the Government of the Republic, particularly in the environmental field, to work in the protection of natural heritage in the state of Michoacan.
"Given the challenges staged by climate change is a priority to achieve a rate of zero deforestation by 2030 across the country", he said.
"FAO statistics suggest that progress is on track, due to a significant reduction in the period 2010-2015 of 96,000 hectares compared to the previous period 2005-2010, when the country lost 150,00 annually", said Pacchiano.
Declared a Natural World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2008, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is located in eastern Michoacan and in the western area of the state of Mexico, in the central region.
The Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) fly more than 4,000 kilometers from Canada and the United States each year, fleeing the harsh winter, to reach Mexico. ■
A very active and complex mid-May weather pattern is set to produce numerous areas of severe weather, heavy rain, high winds, and anomalous temperatures through this weekend.