Tacos de barbacoa at El Mexiquense in Mexico City

I’m a sucker for tacos de barbacoa and this place in CDMX (in Narvarte, Roma and other locations) has great ones. Try the tacos dorados as well! —Peter Davies, chief staff writer

Tacos de guisado at Los Burritos in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Nopales, meat, eggs in red sauce, mole, chicharrón, beans… are some of the dishes you can enjoy in your ‘burritaco’ prepared on the spot in delicious flour tortillas. They are located on Hidalgo Street, in downtown San Miguel de Allende. —María Ruiz, assistant editor

Pellizcada de asada at the Mercado Garmendia in Culiacán, Sinaloa

Thicker than a tortilla but thinner than a sope, Culiacán’s pellizcadas offer just the right dose of chewy tamal goodness. The cooked masa is spread with savory pan drippings, melted cheese and a thick layer of carne asada then served with a wide variety of salsas. —Rose Egelhoff, senior news editor

Tacos de asada at Lila Taquería in Dubai

I had tacos de carne asada and agua de Jamaica on Day of the Dead. The tacos tasted just like any taco in Mexico. Later we learned all ingredients in this restaurant are shipped from Mexico. —Gaby Solís, news writer

Tacos al pastor at Orinoco in Mexico City

The crispy tortilla topping that Orinoco adds really takes this taco al pastor to the next level. —Caitlin Cooper, senior news editor

Tacos de carne asada con queso in Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí

Lots of pico de gallo, fresh tortillas, grilled green onions, amazing salsas — served on plastic tables and chairs on the street. —Travis Bembenek, Mexico News Daily CEO

Tacos al pastor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The chances of stumbling upon a taco al pastor in the dusty street of the Cambodian capital were low. The chances of it being lovingly prepared by a Oaxacan chef were even lower. It was a tiny slice of heaven. —Chris Havler-Barrett, features editor

Tacos de carne asada in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

The salsas are amazing! —Tamanna Bembenek, Mexico News Daily co-owner and product manager

Tacos de barbacoa at Mayahuel in Querétaro city

This local family-run chain of barbacoa restaurants scattered in and around the city of Querétaro consistently makes the best traditional barbacoa de borrego tacos I’ve ever tasted. Their dining setup may look unassuming — some locations are a bunch of wooden tables set up outdoors under a massive tent — but Mayahuel takes the art of barbacoa seriously, with the meat wrapped in maguey leaves and braised for hours in a traditional mesquite-fired barbecue pit. They also provide plenty of the traditional simmering consomé or mole de olla and all the classic fixings. No wonder queretanos pack this place on weekends. —Michelle Aguilar, news editor

Tacos de carne asada and pastor at El Nuevo Poblano in Tijuana

Giant tacos with so much guacamole — very indulgent and very northern. —Felicity Bradstock, news writer

For more recommendations, don’t forget to check out our staff picks for best books, movies and music of 2024.

Mexico News Daily

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Podcasts

The rise of the Aztec empire: Ed Barnhart and Lex Fridman

Ed Barnhart, an archeologist and explorer specializing in ancient civilizations of the Americas, guest stars on the Lex Fridman Podcast. —Tamanna Bembenek, Mexico News Daily co-owner and product manager

The Sounds of Mexico City

While not exactly a podcast, this audio story delivers you from wherever you are to the bustling, boisterous streets of Mexico City. Very innovative! —Peter Davies, chief staff writer

Radiolab’s Border Trilogy

Though this series first aired in 2018, Radiolab released an updated version last year. In the aftermath of U.S. President Biden’s crackdown on asylum seekers, it’s more relevant than ever. —Rose Egelhoff, senior news editor

Music

The Warning

I recently discovered The Warning, a rock band formed by three sisters from Monterrey. They started playing Metallica covers together when they were little. Now, they have achieved so much success that they fill the Auditorio Nacional. If you are a rock lover I highly recommend this super girl band! —María Ruiz, assistant editor

Peso Pluma

Mexican regional musician Peso Pluma’s chart-topping hits have helped bring the genre of corridos tumbados to the ears of listeners around the world. His ties to narco-culture make this artist controversial, especially in his home country — but you’re still likely to hear these earworms playing around town almost anywhere in Mexico. Check out his songs “Rubicon” and “Nueva Vida” for an irresistible introduction to modern-day corridos. —Tamanna Bembenek, Mexico News Daily co-owner and product manager

Kittyponeo by Bellakath

Mexico City’s alternative reggaetonera Bellakath first went viral in 2022 with her hit single “Gatita.” Her first studio album, “Kittyponeo,” came out in 2023 and the top song, “Reggaeton Champagne,” continued to chart globally into early 2024. —Felicity Bradstock, news writer

KEVIN PÓRTATE BIEN by Robot95

Mexicali rapper Kevin Gutiérrez, aka Robot95, has won fans over with R&B-influenced “smooth, West Coast hip hop,” according to Remezcla. His most recent album, “Kevin pórtate bien” (“Kevin, behave yourself”) came out in 2024. —Bethany Platanella, features writer

Mexico News Daily

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Y tu mamá también (And Your Mother Too)

In this 2001 classic from director Alfonso Cuarón, the lives of Julio and Tenoch, like those of 17-year-old boys everywhere, are ruled by raging hormones and intense friendships as they rush headlong into adulthood. —Andrea Fischer, copy editor

Love is Blind: Mexico (2024) on Netflix

It starts out slow but then you’re hooked. Plus friends of friends know some of the gang, so I got post-production chisme as a bonus. —Bethany Plantanella, features writer

Oh my God, what a car crash of stereotypes, love triangles and trash TV. —Chris Havler-Barrett, chief features editor

La Cocina (The Kitchen)

If you loved “Güeros,” you will find the same black-and-white cinematic charm in “La Cocina.” This 2024 masterpiece from director Alonso Ruizpalacios dissects the layers of capitalism and racism that sour the experience of immigrants in the United States — and serves it all on a stunning plate. Fans of “The Bear,” this one is for you. —Caitlin Cooper, senior news editor

Taste of Mexico with María Meléndez

Learn Mexican recipes and hear about traditional Mexican ingredients from María Meléndez, a young Chilanga, in one of Mexico News Daily’s new video series. —Tamanna Bembenek, Mexico News Daily co-owner and product manager

Cada minuto cuenta (Every Minute Counts)

This new series tells the human stories of the devastating 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. Find it on Prime Video. —Peter Davies, chief staff writer

A Walk in the Clouds

If you love romantic movies as much as I do… you probably already know this one! This Mexican-American movie tells the story of two young people who meet by chance and fall in love. Period. What I love so much about this movie is the cinematography, the music, the quality cast and the setting. When I watch it, it makes me want to live in a vineyard in California and find true love, just like Victoria did. —María Ruiz, assistant editor

Pastorela (Nativity Play)

Chucho is very attached to his yearly role as Satan in his town’s Nativity play, so chaos ensues when a new pastor has other casting ideas. This raunchy 2011 Christmas comedy might be called “Pastorela,” but it’s nothing like the Nativity plays of my Midwestern U.S. childhood. —Rose Egelhoff, senior news editor

For more sensory entertainment, keep an eye out for upcoming staff recommendations for podcasts, music and too-good-to-miss tacos.

Mexico News Daily

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I’ll Sell You a Dog by Juan Pablo Villalobos

Set in Mexico City, this funny and witty novel focuses on the life of a retired taco vendor who lives in a rundown cockroach-infested building with other elderly folk. Very entertaining! —Peter Davies, chief staff writer

Canasta de cuentos mexicanos (Basket of Mexican Tales) by B. Traven

This is a collection of short stories written in 1946 by the author Bruno Traven, whose birth origin is unknown. He arrived in Mexico in 1924 after fleeing Germany, where he was condemned to death for his anarchist ideals. In Mexico he immersed himself in the culture, getting to know the Indigenous communities, especially in Chiapas. These 10 short stories amusingly convey this 20th century Mexican world view. —María Ruiz, assistant editor

Queer by William S. Burroughs

An American heroin addict cruises Mexico City’s Avenida Amsterdam and the historic center throughout the 1950s, in search of drugs, company and chasing an unhealthy obsession with someone who does almost anything but return his affections. —Chris Havler-Barrett, features editor

The Last Emperor of Mexico by Edward Shawcross

The fascinating story of European royalty Carlotta and Maximillian as they try to establish themselves as the leaders of Mexico. Reads like a telenovela! —Travis Bembenek, Mexico News Daily CEO

Salvar el fuego (Saving the Fire) by Guillermo Arraiga

The story: Marina, a married woman from Mexico’s elite, starts an affair with a man in prison. The background: a country divided by class, violence and inequality. The book is equal parts painful and suspenseful in showing a reality that many of us Mexicans completely ignore. —Gaby Solís, staff writer

México, manuel de usario (Mexico, User’s Manual) by Chumel Torres

Mexican comedian Chumel Torres explores various aspects of Mexican culture, including history, politics, religion and food as he tries to answer the question, “Mexico, why are you like this?” His unorthodox, often provocative approach will have you LOLing. —Bethany Plantanella, features writer

Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko

A “retired” mafia hit man from Jersey, a successful Indigenous psychic, a Chiapas insurance salesman and an ambitious Arizona real estate agent are just a few of the characters whose lives intertangle in this magic realist exploration of the Mexico-U.S. border. —Rose Egelhoff, senior news editor

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Given the ever-accelerating impacts of climate change, reporting about water resources often falls into the alarmist category. We wanted to change that narrative.

Launched this year, MND’s Water in Mexico series examines the critical issues facing Mexico’s water resources by focusing on the brilliant ideas, people and companies providing hope and solutions.

Here’s a look back at the highlights of this special series, which tells the story of water in Mexico as it evolved throughout 2024.

A crisis point?

In the spring of 2024, residents of Mexico City prepared for an impending “Day Zero” that — fortunately — never came.

In May, nearly 76% of Mexico was experiencing drought conditions, according to the Drought Monitoring Agency of the National Meteorological Service (SMN). The capital’s Cutzamala System, which supplies water for approximately 22 million people, was below 30% of its capacity.

By many international media accounts — the Associated Press, Bloomberg and the Washington Post, among others — the city was set to reach “Day Zero,” a day when not a single drop of water would fall from the faucets, on June 26.

“Day Zero” didn’t happen in 2024. But could it happen in 2025?

As Nancy Moya writes, “With Mexico’s water crisis deepening, the nation’s ability to manage its most vital resource is increasingly at stake.”

Learn more about the particular problems impacting Mexico’s water security and what experts suggest should be done:

Mexico’s water crisis: Day Zero and the looming threat of scarcity

Private sector support

While Mexico’s water crisis dominated headlines in 2024, another trend captured international attention: nearshoring.

These issues are inextricably linked, as the success of nearshoring initiatives heavily depends on the availability and reliability of water resources and infrastructure.

In the first quarter of 2024, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico reached a record US $20.3 billion, representing a 9% increase compared to the same period in 2023. As we approach the end of 2024, estimates indicate that Mexico is on track to break last year’s top sum of $36 billion.

While industrial water consumption currently represents only 4% of Mexico’s total water usage, the influx of new businesses is putting pressure on the available infrastructure and supply.

Mexico currently invests less than 1% of its GDP in infrastructure development when it should allocate at least 5%, according to the president of the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC) Francisco Solares.

Fortunately, the increased presence of foreign companies through nearshoring could potentially catalyze the necessary infrastructure investments to mitigate water scarcity. As businesses relocate to Mexico, they bring not only economic opportunities but also the potential for technological advancements and sustainable practices in water management.

Siemens, for example, is developing automation and electrification technologies that could have a significant impact on the water and energy industries in Mexico. Read more about them here:

Siemens shows how industry can help solve Mexico’s water and energy challenges: A perspective from our CEO

And in November, President Claudia Sheinbaum made it clear she supports “sharing the weight” of water security with the business sector.

Mexico’s governors sign Sheinbaum pact to improve water use by industry

Read about Sheinbaum’s new national Water Plan here.

Community-led solutions

In addition to the private sector, communities across Mexico are spearheading innovative solutions to Mexico’s water crisis — from rainwater harvesting systems to water-efficient agriculture.

Mexico’s water crisis is complicated by widespread contamination, with a 2020 study finding that 8.8 million people are exposed to unsafe arsenic levels and over 3 million to excessive fluoride levels.

What’s polluting Mexico’s groundwater?

Organizations like Caminos de Agua are addressing this through water treatment plants and rainwater harvesting, while researchers at UNAM are developing electro-deionization techniques to remove contaminants.

Meanwhile, the Tikkun Eco Center in San Miguel de Allende is working to improve water access through their Agua Para la Vida project, which restores water reservoirs and implements reforestation efforts, successfully rehabilitating the San José de Gracia reservoir to hold 45 million liters of water.

Restoring water to San Miguel de Allende, one reservoir at a time

As we look ahead to 2025, we remain committed to spotlighting initiatives that bolster Mexico’s water security. We invite our readers to be active participants in this crucial dialogue. If you’re aware of or involved in any water-related projects or innovations, we encourage you to share them with us at editorial@mexiconewsdaily.com.

Find the rest of our year in water headlines here.

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What stands out most in San Miguel is people’s hospitality and friendliness, even towards children. I love how welcome my kids are in many restaurants and public spaces. A lot of people are happy to see them and show their joy and affection openly. I certainly can’t say the same about my home city of Hamburg in Germany.

In Germany, people are noticeably different in the summertime: we’re more relaxed and take time for the finer things in life. In Mexico, that approach is present all year long. Firstly, because the weather makes it possible, but also because people infect each other with their joie de vivre. There is always something to celebrate and rarely a really good excuse not to take part. You get invited to all the birthdays of even the most distant relatives and the celebrations usually go on for several days. 

Parents are also welcome at children’s birthdays, where beer and wine are served next to soft drinks. You are in the right place in Mexico if you like to celebrate. Even if it’s “just” a meal with friends, there’s tequila as an aperitif, and the bottle rarely makes it through the night. Of course, alcohol is not a must. You can enjoy life late at night with tacos from a stall on the street corner just as much as with a delicious drink at an expensive rooftop bar. Barbecues are held as early as January and garden parties take place all year round. 

However, that doesn’t mean that people are lazy. On the contrary, I have met so many highly motivated, hard-working people who are dedicated precisely because they enjoy their time off. Working hours are productive and efficient. They usually start after a morning workout and are interrupted by a meal with the family. I like this central role that the family plays and am convinced that a large part of the quality of life depends on it. My life as a mother of three is also greatly enhanced by the fact that we can afford a housekeeper here in Mexico. She gives me the freedom to take my children to the playground in the afternoon after work instead of having to do the household chores. I am grateful for the valuable time I get with them. 

Of course, not everything is great. As a German, the poor condition of the roads and the chaotic traffic bother me. The main thing I miss about San Miguel de Allende is the freedom of being able to reach everything on foot. I never needed a car in Hamburg. I could reach all my destinations either on foot or by bike. If necessary, by bus and train. 

Here in San Miguel, I am totally dependent on my car. Especially with children, I would welcome the opportunity to simply walk out the front door and go to a park or a playground. However, apart from the fact that most things are too far away, there are no decent footpaths. I can walk on the streets on my own, although of course that’s not entirely safe, but with a baby carriage it’s an odyssey. If you want to ride a bike or go for a walk, you first have to drive to a suitable place, just like in the United States. It’s very different in Germany. Once you’re there, however, it’s beautiful.

Something that has changed in the last couple of years, is the very welcome presence of good coffee shops. Though it might be intuitive to think that Mexico, a coffee producing country, should be full of amazing cafes serving delicious brews, that’s not often the case; it’s true that Mexican coffee beans are exceptional, but they’re mostly grown for export. Luckily, the global trend of meeting and working in coffee shops has arrived in San Miguel too. Nowadays you can find aromatic lattes and intense flat whites in many corners of the city.

Wherever I’ve lived, I’ve always missed German bread. True to form, I was quite disappointed by the bread in San Miguel, and turned to local tortillas instead. I am absolutely in love with the exceptional quality of panaderías popping up everywhere in town. Sourdough helped make people eat bread again, even though real Mexicans still leave out the migajas. 

Last but not least, Germans are huge fans of sitting outside, and San Miguel’s spectacular rooftop terraces, paired with the ideal climate of this stunning city in the heart of Mexico, are probably the biggest reason to settle down here — with or without kids.

Sarah Pankow was born in Hamburg, Germany and settled down in San Miguel de Allende with her family after having lived in 7 different countries all over the globe. She writes, translates and teaches German and literary translation.

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Who is entitled to the bonus?

All employees, including domestic workers, are entitled to the bonus under the terms of the Federal Labor Law.  

Seasonal or part-time employees are also entitled to a bonus, proportionate to the number of hours they’ve worked.  

People hired as independent contractors are not entitled to the bonus unless there is an employment agreement between the two parties. 

Employees who have quit or been laid off are also entitled to a bonus, proportionate to their employment period.

How do you calculate the bonus owed?

It must be equivalent to a minimum of 15 days of salary for all employees who have completed a full year of service. 

Those who have not completed a full year of service are entitled to receive a proportionate share of the bonus depending on the number of weeks or months the employee has worked. 

For example, to calculate the bonus of an employee who has worked for six months, these are the steps to follow: 

1. Divide the net monthly salary by 30 to get your daily pay rate.
2. Multiply the daily pay rate by the minimum 15 days of salary to get the standard bonus amount.
3. Divide the standard bonus amount by the total number of days in a year.
4. Calculate the number of days the employee worked (which in this example is 180 days for six months – (calendar days).
5. Multiply the number of days the employee worked by the proportional bonus quota to get the final bonus amount.

If the worker’s salary is variable, their income must be based on the daily average obtained over the last 30 calendar days of effective work.

When is it due?

The bonus must be distributed by Dec. 20.

Is the bonus taxable as income? 

Yes, if the amount exceeds 30 days of minimum wage.

Mexico News Daily

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Mexico finds itself, quite suddenly, awash in Chinese cars. Hundreds of thousands of them.

The United States and Canada look at the situation and wonder: What exactly is going on with our neighbor to the south, our trusted partner in the USMCA?

Now imagine for a moment that you have been appointed to be the independent judge and jury.

Do you find Mexico:

A. Guilty — Mexico is secretly building ties with China.

B. Innocent — Mexico was blindsided.

or

C. It’s Messy — Mexico was an unwitting accomplice.

Before delivering a verdict you say you need more facts.

Here’s how the events have unfolded:

Back in 2020, Mexico decided to open the door wider to imports from China. A decree dropped import tariffs on cars from 20% to 0%. The idea was to give some Mexican car buyers access to low-cost electric vehicles (EVs).

Pretty soon a small stream of affordable cars from companies like Chery, Great Wall and MG arrived on Mexican shores.

No harm, no foul.

But then, the numbers began to jump. Today, a tsunami of Chinese cars and trucks is pouring into Mexico — and flying out of showrooms.

The P.R.C. will ship close to 500,000 vehicles to Mexico this year. China has blown past the United States to become Mexico’s number one supplier of cars.

One of every three new cars sold in Mexico this year will be built in China. That’s up from just 4% in 2020.

Mexico’s leaders appear to be frozen in stunned disbelief.

“I just don’t think Mexico was prepared for China’s scale and speed,” Travis Bembenek, CEO of Mexico News Daily, told me last week.

Mr. Bembenek, who has been doing business in Mexico for more than 30 years, knows his adopted country well. He is probably right.

And yet, the Mexican government seems strangely slow to counter the flood of Chinese imports. In fact, the Chinese market momentum seems to be getting stronger by the month.

BYD: Big, bold plans

Take Berkshire Hathaway-invested BYD, for example. China’s No. 1 automaker just entered Mexico in 2023.

The company is on track to sell 50,000 cars in Mexico this year. And BYD de Mexico CEO Jorge Vallejo says the company plans to double that to 100,000 in 2025.

That’s not all. Vallejo says that BYD will soon announce the location of a new BYD plant with the capacity to build 150,000 cars per year.

One veteran Mexican car dealer who just started selling BYDs told me he was ecstatic. “I’ve never sold so many cars in a quarter!”

BYD’s numbers look even more stunning when compared with industry giants like Toyota. It took the world’s largest automaker 22 years before it achieved 100,000 sales in Mexico in a single year.

BYD plans to get there in just 36 months. As my teenage daughter, Aurelia, likes to say: Wait, what?

Mexico’s own export machine

At the same time that Mexico is spending billions on cars imported from China, the country is also exporting a record number of vehicles to the United States.

In 2023, Mexico shipped a record 2.2 million cars to the U.S. It is a lucrative business for Mexico that also employs tens of thousands.

Mexico is also home to a strong and vibrant parts industry.

It is natural to wonder: Why would Mexico import so many cars from China when the country is working hard to build its own export-oriented industry?

That does not make sense.

Trade sweats

China’s surge in investment south of the border has given North American leaders those middle-of-the-night sweats. Mexico is the canary in the coal mine.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese imports. And President-elect Trump has said that he will absolutely block any efforts to bring Chinese cars into the U.S. via Mexico.

In October, the Department of Commerce added new regulations to ban cars with Chinese hardware or software from being sold in America.

Trump’s declaration

American politicians and industrial leaders are beginning to complain out loud that Mexico may be a less than totally reliable partner.

On November 7th, just two days after the election, President-elect Trump made clear his displeasure:

“I’m going to inform her [President Sheinbaum] on day one that if they do not stop this onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I am going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send to the United States of America.”

Trump is not alone in his fury. Last week Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, Canada, recommended potentially removing Mexico from the USMCA.

Ford said Mexico should “at the very least” match U.S. and Canadian tariffs on Chinese imports, or “they shouldn’t have a seat at the table or enjoy access to the largest economy in the world.”

When four is a crowd

Tensions are building. The U.S. and Canada are not happy. China is quietly delighted. Mexico is under pressure to act.

Look for Mexico to increase tariffs on Chinese cars. Soon. Car exports to America are simply too crucial to the Mexican economy.

The 0% decree elapsed in September, so now Chinese cars face an import duty of 20%. That is hardly enough to stop the flow.

“Mexico will match the [100%] tariffs of the U.S. and Canada,” said Jorge Guajardo, former Mexican ambassador to China and now a partner at the DGA Group in Washington D.C., “precisely because Mexico wants to protect its own industry, its own supplier base. There is a strong auto parts lobby in Mexico pushing for higher tariffs right now.”

That happened, now what?

Mexico opened the door. Chinese automakers flew in. The U.S. and Canada got nervous: Is Mexico complicit or naive, they wondered?

The USMCA is definitely entering new territory. Much remains up in the air.

• What happens, for example, if Leapmotor International, the 51/49 JV between Stellantis and Leapmotor, starts building cars in Mexico?

• How will states like California react when some of the nearly one million Chinese cars now running on Mexican roads find their way north across the border? (I already see an occasional China-built car with Mexican plates rolling on San Diego highways)

Things can get complicated in a hurry.

Amidst all the uncertainty, one thing is clear: China successfully poked the USMCA. It won’t be the last time.

That’s the verdict.

Michael Dunne is an entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker. In 2018, Dunne founded Dunne Insights to deliver world-class advisory services on global electric and autonomous vehicle markets. Subscribe to his newsletter at newsletter.dunneinsights.com.

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The survey is carried out annually in partnership with organizations including Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Natural Areas (Conanp). It measures not individual butterflies, but the acres of land that monarch colonies occupy. In the 2023-2024 season, colonies covered only 2.2 acres of forest, as opposed to 5.5 acres the previous winter. This year’s data represents the second-smallest area of land occupied since monitoring began in 1993. 

North America is home to two major monarch populations divided by the Rocky Mountains. The larger population, which breeds east of the Rockies in the central and eastern parts of Canada and the United States, migrate up to 3,000 miles each year to overwinter on a handful of mountaintops in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

In 1980, the Mexican government designated a 56,000 hectare area on the Michoacán-México state border as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, and conservation efforts have traditionally focused on this area. This season’s largest monarch colonies were registered outside the reserve, however, in México state. 

“Fewer monarchs hibernating in their traditional forest habitat in Mexico greatly concerns all of us,” said WWF Mexico general director Jorge Rickards. “This is not the first time we’ve observed changes in the locations of the largest monarch colonies. It’s telling us that we need to intensify conservation and restoration measures not only in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, but also outside of it.”

Monarchs have made headlines several times in recent years due to spikes in their winter colony populations, with increases registered in 2022 and 2021. But their long-term trend has been decline, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whose risk-rating system classifies them as vulnerable to extinction. The IUCN reports that the eastern monarch population shrank by over 85% between 1996 and 2014.

Scientists say that the recent drop in monarch numbers is attributable to high temperatures and drought in Canada and the U.S. which have affected the abundance of milkweed, the only plant which monarchs lay their eggs on and the only food source for monarch larvae. Milkweed and other nectar plants that adult monarchs feed on have also been lost due to increased use of glyphosate — the most widely used herbicide in the U.S. — and land-use change tied to increased planting of glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans. 

Environmental and political issues also affect monarchs once they reach overwintering sites in Mexico. The pine and fir forests where monarch colonies form are affected by illegal logging, a lucrative criminal economy. Deforestation fell last year, however, and does not appear to be a factor in this year’s colony decline.

Speaking on a panel with U.S. and Canadian counterparts, Conanp director Adán Peña Fuentes noted that the federal government has taken steps to preserve monarch migration, including a 2020 decree to phase out glyphosate usage in Mexico. Peña also emphasized Conanp’s work with the private sector to support conservation efforts. “We will coordinate with these actors along the Mexican migration route to establish a national strategy for monarch conservation in Mexico and on the continental scale,” he added.

With reports from the World Wildlife Fund, Milenio and The New York Times

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Military personnel and specialists from the Coahuila Labor Ministry, the state’s Civil Protection body, the Federal Electricity Commission (FCE) and National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) worked to locate the remains just over 200 feet underground. The bodies will now be identified and delivered to their respective families.

A statement from the federal government reported that 2.3 million cubic meters of rock and soil have been extracted during nearly 12,000 hours of uninterrupted recovery efforts at the El Pinabete mine. Given the amount of material necessary to remove from the mine – including water, which has been pumped out with purpose-built pumps – recovering the remains only became possible recently. CNPC reports discussing plans to recover the bodies had been published earlier this month.

El Pinabete reportedly flooded when uncontrolled mining at the site broke into Las Conchas, an abandoned neighboring mine, itself flooded by the nearby Sabinas River. This year, the newspaper El País described El Pinabete as “a tragedy waiting to happen” that lacked “even the most basic safety conditions.”

On May 24, Luis Rafael García Luna Acuña, majority stakeholder of El Pinabete, was arrested by the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Nuevo León on charges of illegal mining. In July, pre-trial judge José Luis Hernández Hernández granted García a stay and ordered his immediate release. The FGR appealed this decision, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals revoked the stay on Dec. 15.

The El Pinabete tragedy once again drew attention to the precarious conditions faced by miners in Mexico, particularly in Coahuila, where over 60 percent of mining accidents in Mexico take place. This July, almost one year after the collapse, two miners lost their lives in an accident at a different mine in Sabinas, the same city where El Pinabete is located.

With reports from Proceso, La Jornada San Luis

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