Winter boost

Over-wintering monarch butterflies in the forests of central Mexico may be looking forward to more secure rest following an announcement by the Mexican government of a budget boost of $4.6 million per year to improve the conditions for the migrant butterflies and for the many often prominent human visitors, and to tackle illegal logging. Conservation officials said that the additional funds for the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, which covers 50,000 hectares of oyamel pine forest in the prime minister's home state of Michoacan, will go towards better equipment for the rangers and increased advertising and facilities for tourists. Clouds of insects converge on the area during late October and November following a spectacular migration across north America. They spend the winter in the forests before heading back north in the spring. They often fly in groups, forming ribbons in the sky and can cover up to 100 miles per day. Researchers believe the insects have been following the same migration routes for more than 10,000 years. At present, the monarch population appears healthy, with observers recording greater numbers heading south last autumn than had been seen during the past 15 years. American conservationists have been increasing their efforts to provide vital summer feeding and breeding habitat. So the integrity of the Mexican forests is therefore crucial to their winter survival. Anxiety has been growing about the extent of illegal logging in particular. Lincoln Bower, a zoologist at the University of Florida, says that deterioration of the mountain habitat would be a disaster for the butterflies. " By taking a single tree out near the colony you allow heat to escape and that can jeopardise the butterflies. " Announcing the funding, President Calderon said it was possible " to take care of the environment and at the same time promote development ". Although deforestation remains the biggest threat to the habitat of the butterflies, the government insists it is gaining ground against illegal logging. It has set up a programme to plant 270 million trees across the country that was due to be completed by the end of last year. The sight of thousands of butterflies sheltering in the pine trees draws visitors from around the world, and the threat to them has drawn a response from high-profile environmental campaigners, such as Britain's Prince Charles. But many local people also welcome the butterflies and support measures to improve conditions. And researchers …