🦋 Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve: Cerro Pélon
UNESCO World Heritage Site hosting critical winter habitat for monarch butterflies
📋 Fast Facts
- UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2008
- Located in Estado de México at approximately 3,000 meters elevation within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
- Hosts millions of monarch butterflies annually during winter migration (November–March)
- Core conservation zone threatened by illegal logging and climate change impacts
Cerro Pélon is a core conservation zone within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, recognized internationally for its ecological significance in the annual monarch migration cycle. Each winter, monarch butterflies from Canada and the United States migrate thousands of kilometers to overwinter in the oyamel fir forests of central Mexico's volcanic highlands. Cerro Pélon's pristine forests and high altitude make it a critical refuge during this phenomenon ...