4,500 km, three countries, one mission: to protect the monarch butterfly and restore the fragile ecosystems on which it depends. Welcome to the official blog of the Ultra-Trail Monarch project, where running serves not only to improve people’s health and mental well-being, but also to save the planet’s biodiversity.
Every year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico, creating one of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles. But in the last twenty years, this breathtaking migration has been threatened like never before. It was to address this problem that an initiative was launched to raise awareness of this dire situation.
The Crisis Behind the Wings
Monarch butterflies are considered by biologists to be the most important pollinators and indicators of the health of our environment. Experts are sounding the alarm about their rapid disappearance.
The main causes of their disappearance are habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. The western population has declined by 99.9% since the 1980s, and the eastern population by 84% between 1996 and 2014. Forests are shrinking, milkweed is disappearing, and extreme weather conditions are disrupting their life cycle. The biodiversity of the entire continent is at stake. And further inaction could have critical consequences.
A Marathon With a Mission
To raise awareness and encourage people to take action, Canadian ultramarathon runner Anthony Battah ran 4,500 km from Montreal to central Mexico, replicating the migration route of monarch butterflies. Over 90 days, he averaged 50 km a day, crossing Canada, the US, and Mexico.
Along the way, Anthony planted milkweed and nectar-bearing flowers, creating resting places for butterflies that will continue to migrate long after he takes his last step. These “aid stations” are miniature habitats designed to feed and protect insects.
Why Milkweed Matters
Without milkweed, monarch butterflies cannot survive. It is the only plant on which they lay their eggs, and the caterpillars feed on it. Unfortunately, it is rapidly disappearing.
Steps to restore butterfly habitats:
- Plant 1.5 billion milkweed plants across North America;
- Add nectar-rich flowers to feed butterflies;
- Limit the use of pesticides and herbicides;
- Involve schools and communities.
These actions help bees, birds, and countless other pollinators that are critical to food security and ecosystem health. Every garden matters. Every flower helps. And when cities and citizens join the movement, it becomes even stronger.
The Power of Running
This marathon is a celebration of what human beings can do when they put their minds and bodies to work for something bigger.
Main areas of impact:
- Raise $4.5 million, one dollar for every meter Anthony runs;
- Raise awareness in North America about the problem of biodiversity loss;
- Inspire people to participate in activities that protect the environment;
- Create a network of athletes, schools, and cities to host ongoing events.
For runners, it’s a reminder that your passion for the sport can be a force for good. For everyone else, it’s proof that movement creates change: on the trails, in minds, and in landscapes.
Join the Flight!
The Ultra-Trail Monarch project is already gaining momentum. Schools are planting gardens. More and more people and communities are joining the initiative.
You don’t have to run 4,500 km to change the world for the better. Plant a flower. Share this story. Support the cause. Together, we can create a corridor of life stretching from Canada to Mexico.
Even the smallest butterfly can change the world with a flap of its wings!