Biodiversity Trees and Wildlife

The Monarch Journey Renewed

Restoring monarch habitat renews life all along their migration.

October 29, 2025

From the United States and Canada to forests in Mexico, the monarch’s flight reminds us that nature is deeply connected. Collaborative restoration projects are rebuilding these habitats, giving monarchs — and the many species that rely on them — a stronger future.

Every autumn, millions of monarch butterflies take flight across North America — a migration so extraordinary it borders on impossible. From Canada and the United States, these fragile pollinators travel thousands of miles to a few small forests high in the mountains of central Mexico.

But in recent decades, this spectacular migration, and the forests that make it possible, have been in jeopardy. Illegal logging, wildfires, agricultural expansion, and climate change have erased large portions of the monarch’s limited winter habitat. Notably, the oyamel firs that shelter them are being pushed to higher elevations as temperatures rise, leaving less room for both trees and butterflies.

To help reverse this decline, the Arbor Day Foundation and its partners have spent the last several years restoring critical monarch habitat across Michoacán, Mexico. Together with on-the-ground partners like Land Life Company, Nación Verde, and Forests for Monarchs, these efforts have reforested approximately 700 acres with more than 340,000 trees since 2021.

Each new tree represents far more than shelter for migrating butterflies. These forests are biodiversity engines — cooling local climates, stabilizing soils, purifying water, and providing food and refuge for countless other species. Birds, bees, and native plants benefit alongside monarchs, as the web of life that depends on healthy forests begins to strengthen again.

Local communities are central to this success. Residents living within and around the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve have been involved in planning, planting, and caring for the trees. Workshops and pilot programs support farmers in adopting pollinator-friendly practices, while job opportunities created through reforestation help provide financial stability and a vested interest in protecting these landscapes long-term. Their stewardship ensures that restored forests remain protected and thriving well beyond the planting phase.

This work is part of a broader truth: when we restore forests for one species, we restore them for many. The monarch migration is a powerful symbol of resilience — a reminder that life is interconnected, and that what happens in one part of the world ripples far beyond its borders.

Because when forests thrive, so does everything that calls them home.

A vibrant swarm of orange and black butterflies flutters against a clear blue sky, surrounded by green foliage and distant mountains.

Monarch Migration Facts

Monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles every fall, one of the longest insect migrations on Earth.

With the help of air currents, they can cover 100 miles in a single day, often soaring 1,000 feet above the ground.

Each fall, the monarchs that migrate south are on a journey no generation has taken before. Their ancestors never lived long enough to make the trip. Guided by the sun and Earth’s magnetic field, they somehow know exactly where to go.

The entire migration depends on four to five generations of monarchs. The first few live only weeks; the final “super generation” lives up to nine months and completes the journey back south.

A vibrant monarch butterfly perched on delicate purple asters, capturing a moment in nature's beauty.

Ecosystem Connections

Monarchs feed on nectar as they migrate, pollinating hundreds of native wildflowers that bloom along their route — including asters, goldenrods, and blazing stars. These same plants feed bees, beetles, and hummingbirds.
The nectar plants monarchs rely on are also critical to other migratory species, like ruby-throated hummingbirds and lesser long-nosed bats, who follow overlapping seasonal flower routes.
Many songbirds (like orioles and grosbeaks) depend on the same patches of forest in Mexico for winter shelter — when trees fall, both butterflies and birds lose their refuge.

Journey North’s interactive map tracks sightings across North America, offering a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest journeys.

Take action to help life in forests grow

The accelerating destruction of forests has a significant impact on plants, animals, and ecosystems. But with your support, we can regrow what was lost and help the diversity of life in forests thrive. Give today to plant a more vibrant tomorrow.

Donate

Join