SUSAN LASTRES Hinsdale resident for 30 years • Former Hinsdale Library Board president • Retired emergency room physician • Guest lecturer at DePaul University • Married to husband Oswaldo for 32 years
Milkweed was always a staple in the garden of Susan Nedza Lastres and husband Oswaldo. Like many gardeners, the couple knew the importance of providing a crucial food supply for monarch butterflies and wanted to do something to help the monarchs flourish. It wasn't until the couple met world-renowned National Geographic photographer Chris Rainier that they realized their efforts might not be enough to protect the species.
"Many gardeners in Hinsdale have actively planted butterfly-friendly plants for many years. Unfortunately, few of us know about the threats to their winter home and the decline in the population, which many of us have noted," Lastres said.
During the summer months in Illinois, milkweed provides monarchs with their primary source of food. But once the butterflies arrive at their winter destination in Michoacán, Mexico, they face new challenges, Lastres said.
The monarchs' Mexican habitat is endangered due to deforestation, climate change and even crime, leading to the monarch being declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation and Nature in July 2022. Meanwhile, the culture of the area where the monarchs winter is also at risk.
Rainier and Olivia McKendrick, founder of the Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation, invited the Lastreses to join them in their work to protect the monarchs' habitat, as well as the culture of the Mazahuan people of Michoacán. The foundation is creating a gathering place where the community can celebrate and learn about cultural crafts, textiles, music and dance. The center will include a classroom for teaching the local native language and serve as a destination for locals and tourists to learn about Mazahua culture, the Monarchs and local conservation.
Lastres said the project to protect and preserve the region is important to her and Oswaldo, not only as gardeners and lovers of nature, but as family. The couple's son-in-law was born in Mexico and, along with the Lastres' daughter, supports the Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation.
"We're doing our part," said Lastres, who encourages other gardeners to do what they can to strengthen the monarch population and protect the environment.
Planting milkweed is a good start, she said. Planting other native plants and avoiding pesticides also helps the butterflies to thrive.
The Lastreses consider themselves ecotourists, taking trips all over the world to educate themselves about the environment and even taking steps to improve it. They'll embark on their sixth National Geographic ecotour this summer when they travel to the British Isles. But being an ecotourist doesn't require a long-distance destination, Lastres said.
"It's important to understand what sustains the communities that we value," Lastres said. Local parks, forest preserves and nature centers offer opportunities to learn about the environment and how to protect it.
"Being a thoughtful visitor to any of these places is a place to start," she said.
Lastres said she and her husband put what they've learned to work by recycling, buying from local farmers and downsizing to a single vehicle.
