Progress is being made in eastern Iowa, in Iowa and in the nation, but we all need to keep working on helping the monarchs, planting milkweed, raising caterpillars, planting sources for nectar and spreading the word wherever we can!
LAST YEAR MEMBERS OF OUR SMALL GROUP
RAISED ABOUT 1400 MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.
We are excited about what we will accomplish this year!
Here are a few examples of what's happening.
Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium Established
March 2, 2015 - Enhancing the monarch butterfly’s habitat in rural and urban Iowa is the goal of a new, broad-based statewide effort. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, established through the efforts of Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will take a science-based approach to enhancing monarch butterfly reproduction and assist community-led implementation efforts. Read more about it!
http://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/new-consortium-launched-conserve-monarch-butterfly-habitat-iowa
CBS News Sunday Morning ran a piece on Monarchs in March, 2015.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/planting-a-future-for-monarch-butterflies/
U.S. to consider endangered species status for monarch butterfly.
January 05, 2015 - WASHINGTON • The federal Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct a “status review” of the monarch butterfly to see if it deserves federal endangered species protection. The regulatory step does not mean the agency will place the monarch on the endangered or protected list, but its decision ensures a comprehensive review of up to a year. The agency determined that environmental and food safety groups had presented “substantial information” supporting the review.
Environmental groups hailed last week’s announcement, calling it a “vital first step” to give stronger protection for the iconic butterfly, which scientists say is threatened by the loss of wintering forest habitat in Mexico and milkweed essential to its reproduction in the United States and Canada.
Read more about it.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/fish-and-wildlife-service-to-consider-endangered-species-status-for/article_33ea634b-d8d1-514f-b891-0ac65fee4491.html
RAGBRAI
There is even a RAGBRAI group called "Milkweed Matters" who spread seeds across the state during the bicycle ride across Iowa and talk to people who may not be aware of the Monarch's plight!
Be sure to check out the tabs at the top of the page. There is a lot of information there, including directions and videos of "how to" and upcoming events.
THE FIRST MONARCHS ARE NOW ON THE MOVE NORTH
PLANT MILKWEED!
