300,000 trees being planted in 2008 During the summer planting season of 2008, LCHPP, Inc. is sponsoring the planting of 300,000 new trees in the highlands of Michoacan. 200,000 of these are being planted in or near the Monarch Biosphere Reserve to restore the forests and the climate for the butterflies and for the people of the region. Of these, 150,000 are sponsored by American Forests, Global Releaf Forests program. Private individuals, families, and groups are sponsoring the remaining 50,000 trees. The other 100,000 trees are being planted on the watersheds of Lakes Patzcuaro and Lake Zirahuen, and are sponsored by October Hill Foundation.

American Forests Global Releaf Campaign sponsors 150,000 trees in 2008 After a site visit to review our project in the fall of 2007, American Forests Global Releaf Campaign has increased their support of our reforestation project. In the summer 2008 planting season, they are sponsoring the planting of 150,000 trees in the monarch area. LCHPP, Inc. greatly appreciates American Forests' financial support that is helping us to accomplish our mission. For more information about American Forests Global Releaf Campaign go to: http://www.americanforests.org

Tree Planting Program to Expand to Watersheds of Highland Lakes In 2008 the LCHPP program will expand to include the watersheds of two important and imperiled highland lakes of Michoacan. To realize this goal, October Hill Foundation has offered a $50,000 challenge to be matched by other funds and begin planting around the environmentally, culturally and economically important Lake Patzcuaro and nearby Lake Zirahuen. Ancient P'urhepecha, who lived on the shores and the islands of Lake Patzcuaro, where the only people of Mexico at the time who were never conquered by the Aztecs. They believed the lake was the gateway to heaven. Today, they still live there and depend on the lake for their spiritual and physical well-being, however, the lake is rapidly disappearing. It is being filled by siltation caused by deforestation of the mountain slopes that surround it. LCHPP is already exploring possible collaborators in the area. We need your help to save what is left of this beautiful and historic lake.

80,000 trees planted in 2007 LCHPP is proud to announce that with the help of American Forests Global releaf, October Hill Foundation, Spirit of Butterflies Tours, and many individuals across the US and Canada, LCHPP, Inc. was able to plant 80,000 new trees in its inaugral year of 2007. We are currently working toward a goal of planting 250,000 trees in 2008 and already have a committment from October Hill Foundation to support this goal.

American Forests Funding Received
A grant from American Forests will plant 50,000 trees in the monarch area during the summer 2007 planting season. For more information about American Forests Global Releaf Campaign go to: http://www.americanforests.org

Over 3 million trees planted.

We are proud to announce that in 2006 the La Cruz Habitat Protection Project (LCHPP) planted an additional 420,000 pine and oyamel seedlings in areas within and adjacent to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in the State of Michoacán, Mexico. We have come a long way since our first plantings in 1997 when four families planted 7,000 pine seedlings in fields that had been previously used to grow corn. Hundreds of families have now participated in planting nearly two and a half million trees on their family parcels or communally managed lands.

The following is an excerpt from a recent United Nations Resolution declaring the year 2011 as INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS . . . . "Recognizing that forests and sustainable forest management can contribute significantly to sustainable development, poverty eradication . . . . . " To read the full resolution and for more information, please go to: http://www.un.org/esa/forests/2011/UN-resolution.html

Billion Tree Campaign

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and governments are encouraged to enter tree planting pledges online with the objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide during 2007. La Cruz Habitat Protection Project, Inc. will be part of that effort. For more information, please go to: http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/