Monarch Research Project
The Vision of Monarch Research is a vibrant, thriving pollinator habitat throughout Linn County with a sustainable growing monarch population.
Monarch Research is a catalyst for action among public private partnerships and local landowners focusing efforts on a controlled community of interest (Linn County). The “lessons learned” create a playbook on how communities across America can create living landscapes sufficient enough to flatten the steep downward trend in the insect population (bees, butterflies, Pollinators) and associated species.
Partnering with ISU researchers, MRP’s Pollinator Zones™ are committed to expand native habitat for pollinators on public and private lands in Linn County, Iowa. Learn more.
Our objective is to develop Monarch Zones® (MZ)—homes, cities, and counties that are committed to our goal of repopulating the butterfly population. We have established close to 200 Monarch Zones in and around Linn County, Iowa. Learn more.
The MRP is working with the eastern Iowa governments and citizens to establish monarch and habitat models that can be replicated in other communities. Learn more.
In April we launched the first Planting Forward efforts in Linn County. We…
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Mike has been drinking a lot of milk! And he’s doing spring…
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TODAY is a GOOD day to think about SPRING Last summer we…
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When Lonnie Smith started thinking about establishing an area behind his new…
read more“What you are doing is audacious in the best sense of the word: You’re trying something difficult, and you’re doing it for good reasons.”
“The Monarch Research Project is a prime example of an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach. Thank you for having the energy and vision required for saving the monarch butterfly.”
“As a first-time participant, I’d like to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed the project. What a kick to watch the caterpillars devour the milkweed! I released 29 butterflies, and my only complaint is that it went too fast.”
“Alliant Energy is proud to partner with the Monarch Research Project and welcomes the opportunity to support its mission. We are dedicated to improving the habitat for the monarch butterfly and are planting pollinator habitat on our properties where possible to help fortify the migratory pathway of the monarch.”
“MRP’s strategy for solving the decrease in native habitat and the dramatic reduction in the monarch population is to engage and energize a broad group of Linn County landowners to make environmentally sound use of our lands. Our hope is that our efforts set an example of the positive impact we all can have on the environment.”