HABITAT LOSS THREATENS MONARCH BUTTERFLY POPULATION |棲地頻遭破壞 威脅北美"帝王蝶"生態

Every year, the monarch butterfly migrates from Canada and the U.S. to Mexico. However, the number of monarch butterflies are decreasing because of habitat loss resulting from illegal logging, and falling trees. Moreover, land-use change and herbicides threaten the butterfly population. To protect the monarch butterfly, reforestation is of vital importance. The orange-and-black monarch butterfly makes a 2,000-mile journey from Canada and the United States to Mexico every year. Its migration has been called one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world. Listed as a Species of Special Concern, the number of monarch butterflies are decreasing because of habitat loss resulting from illegal logging. Although the Mexican government has taken a tough stance to curb illegal logging, the future for these butterflies doesn't look bright. ==OMAR VIDAL, Mexico's Director for The World Wildlife Fund== There's encouraging news that illegal logging in the core area of the reserve went down by 40 percent in comparison with last year but on the other hand, there is a threat from a very important factor which are the winds and storms that seriously affect the forest. According to the WWF, over last year, 74.6 percent of forest in the Monarch Reserve was damaged by strong winds and storms. Moreover, land-use change and herbicides in the U.S. and Canada threaten butterfly populations because they destroy milkweed, which the butterflies use for food. Therefore, to protect the monarch butterfly, reforestation is a must and a top priority. TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH