2001 was another breakthrough year: 250,000 trees were planted. Reforestation expanded to include The Mazahua Indigenous community that were given 120,000 seedlings. They planted another 120,000 in 2002. Over all in 2002, 300,000 seedlings were planted.

In 1999 and 2001 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent two experts to Michoacan to observe and evaluate the La Cruz Project. One of the members of the site evaluation team was Terri L. Jones, a Silviculturist with the U.S. Forest Service.

In her words:
"Reforestation is working because more and more individuals and organizations in the United States and around the world, and the people and communities near the Monarch Overwintering Sites support and realize the importance of reforestation to all life. The people in the local communities support reforestation because it will provide a future for their children and grandchildren, restore their forests and protect their water system. The people of the world support reforestation as a way to help the intrepid and wondrous monarchs, who journey thousands of miles from the U.S. and Canada to the mountains of Mexico."