Planting Forward
The Planting Forward initiative began after the August 10, 2020, derecho devastated Cedar Rapids, IA, destroying over 50% of the tree canopy and damaging 8,000+ homes. Its goals are to replant Linn County with native trees and educate residents on tree care and the benefits of native species to the environment, pollinators, and people.
Native Trees for Linn County
We work with local businesses and organizations, schools, and individuals to bring high quality native trees into Linn County. Planting Forward is a fall program, with tree orders typically happening in late August thru early September and trees arriving in mid-October. How it works:
- Review: we create the species list in mid-summer and publish it in early August.
- Consider Oak Trees – the importance of native Iowa Oak trees cannot be overstated. This keystone tree provides food for hundreds of species, pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
- Share information – please share information with friends and neighbors, especially the importance of native trees!
- Limited quantities – order early to ensure species availability. When a species quantity is gone the option will no longer show on the order form.
- Planting and Care – this is a critical part of the program’s success. Planting Care, and Tips are linked on this page and will be shared at pickup/delivery.
Program History
On August 10, 2020 Cedar Rapids, IA was struck by a derecho, destroying over 50% of our tree canopy and damaging over 8,000 homes. This storm system affected 340 communities in 27 counties in Iowa.
The DNR has estimated Linn County tree loss at 950,000. This overwhelming green infrastructure loss prompted MR and its partners to focus on turbo-charging tree recovery, along with native pollinator habitats, through this Planting Forward initiative.
Monarch Research was formed with the strong belief that responding to the overwhelming environmental challenges faced globally, requires a response locally. Planting Forward is not only a response to the derecho disaster but also an opportunity to restore thousands of native trees to our canopy supporting hundreds of native species. In fact, native trees are truly the cornerstone of environmental health.
The program was created with two main goals:
- Replanting all derecho-impacted land in Linn County with high-quality native trees.
- Educating residents on proper tree care and the value that only native trees provide to the environment, pollinators, and people.
Why Native Trees?
The Planting Forward project emphasizes natives for several reasons:
- Ecological Adaptation: Native trees have evolved in Iowa alongside our native animal species, making them better suited to the local environment. All native animals and insects depend on native species to survive. The trees offered by MR, especially Oaks, serve as food sources to native Iowa pollinators, birds, and wildlife.
- Biodiversity Support: These trees provide essential habitat and food sources for hundreds of native species. Many of the trees offered in the Planting Forward program are considered keystone trees.
- Environmental Health: Native trees are considered the cornerstone of environmental health in the region.
Planting Forward Program Partners
MR partners with landowners, schools, hospitals, neighborhood associations, historical sites, and local governments in Linn County, to distribute trees to employees.
MR will also assist partner organizations in communicating program details to their employees, including tree species details and registration options.
We have worked with both major health organizations in Cedar Rapids, Raining Rose, Great America, the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha and Mt. Vernon and over 50 organizations and schools since the 2020 Derecho. If you'd like to get involved, let us know! Use the Contact Us link above.
Tree Delivery
Monarch Research will work with Partners to source a variety of native Iowa trees for distribution. Trees will get delivered to a specific location on your property for easy distribution. We will work with you on logistics and communication plans. Partners will care for the trees until the distribution is complete.
Depending on each company’s program, participants may receive up to three trees, tree wrap, and planting and care instructions.
Ways to Participate
In addition to our partner programs with local businesses, organizations, and non-profits, we have TWO additional offerings:
- Woodlands Native Tree Sale: provides the opportunity to purchase high quality, native trees at cost, delivered to the Monarch Research facilities or directly to your property.
- One Child One Tree: offers a free native tree for every child in Linn County. Plant a tree to commemorate the birth of a baby, or to celebrate any aged child! Read more.
Join Us!
The ideal planting season for these trees is early to mid-April or early to mid-Fall.
If your company is interested in participating or you would like more information, please use the Contact Us button below and start a conversation.