Monarch Butterfly Workshop in Cozumel This Friday

Free Conference-Workshop on Monarch Butterfly Migration

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel (FPMC) invites the general public to participate in the Conference-Workshop “Monarch Butterfly, the Route of the Mayab,” a space for scientific dissemination and environmental reflection focused on the migration of the monarch butterfly, an emblematic species that in recent years has been sighted at various points on the Yucatán Peninsula, including the island territory of Cozumel.

The activity will be free and will take place on Friday, January 16, at 5:00 p.m., at the Island Museum, with the participation of the independent community group “Alas Mayas,” a collective with six years of work in Quintana Roo dedicated to the study and monitoring of the monarch butterfly in the Mexican Caribbean.

Scientific Dissemination on Monarch Butterfly Migration

The director of Conservation and Environmental Education (CEA) of the FPMC, Rafael Chacón Díaz, reported that the objective of the meeting is for attendees to learn about the importance of the monarch butterfly’s migration, its relationship with the ecosystems of the Mayab and the Caribbean, as well as the environmental factors that allow its journey and survival.

During the conference and workshop, the ecological value of this species and its presence in the region will be addressed, strengthening scientific knowledge and environmental awareness among the population.

Specialists from “Alas Mayas” to Share Experiences

The activity will be led by María Cecilia Álvarez Ricalde, Estefanía Medina Bastarrachea, Roger Iván Sosa Pinto, and Juan Flores Valadez, members of the “Alas Mayas” group, who collaborate with Dr. Cristina Dockx from the University of Florida, as well as with the organization Latin Monarch and other researchers from Mexico, the United States, the Caribbean, and South America.

During the session, data, experiences, and results from observations made on the migratory route of the monarch butterfly will be shared, in addition to reflecting on the challenges the species faces, such as climate change and habitat loss.

Environmental Education and Conservation in Cozumel

The general director of the FPMC, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, emphasized that this type of activity promotes environmental education and social participation, fundamental pillars for the conservation of natural heritage, in accordance with the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa.

Finally, she reiterated the invitation to the general public to attend the Conference-Workshop “Monarch Butterfly, the Route of the Mayab,” with the commitment to bring science closer to the community, strengthen environmental culture, and foster an informed and participatory citizenry in favor of the biodiversity of Cozumel and Quintana Roo.