Mexico City, Oct 5 (IANS/EFE): Mexican authorities and peasants have stamped out illegal logging at a Monarch butterfly reserve in the mountains of the western state of Michoacan, an official said.

"Mexico has achieved its goal of eradicating illegal logging in the core area for the Monarch, which is an important achievement that guarantees the presence" of this species in Mexico, said federal environment secretary Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada.

He made his remarks during the presentation at this capital's Papalote Children's Museum of the documentary "The Flight of the Monarch", which narrates the migration route of those butterflies in Canada, the US and Mexico and documents the species' natural history and ecosystem and conservation efforts.

Coordinated efforts by the federal government, civil society organizations and local communities have succeeded in preserving the natural richness of the Monarch reserve and preventing its deterioration, the secretary said.

He noted that Mexican authorities have taken very concrete measures to conserve the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, citing efforts by federal environmental regulators to permanently and intensively inspect and monitor those wintering grounds.

The Zero Tolerance for Illegal Logging program also has been applied at the reserve with the backing of federal and state security agencies and local communities, which have formed vigilance committees.

According to official reports, no pine-oak forest mass has been lost at the Monarch reserve over the past two years.