In a bid to improve the monarch butterfly population across the state, several Iowa organizations have joined hands to launch new efforts.

The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium has been established through efforts of the 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. The consortium will take necessary steps to enhance monarch butterfly population, which is declining in recent years.

Partners in the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium include state-wide farming and conservation organizations, agencies and companies.

According to Brian Meyer, Director of college relations in ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, although discussions about forming the group began about a year ago, the dramatic decline in the monarch has been a subject of major concern for the last 10 years.

He mentioned that several factors are responsible for the decline. They include a loss of monarch habitats through urbanization in the US and Mexico as well as a decline in milkweed and other plant resources through farming practices.

Meyer added that the major reason to start the consortium is to raise awareness throughout the state. He said, "This is a really iconic species not just for Iowa, but a large portion of the country. We need to be aware that there are ways we can work together to bring some of this habitat back".

ISU has been tasked with leading research to develop cost-effective practices for maintaining milkweed plants in both rural and urban areas of the state.

Last month, ISU planted 10,000 seeds for nine milkweed species. Seedlings will be transplanted into small demonstration plots on 13 ISU research farms.

The consortium initial efforts complement a recently announced campaign by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which plans to establish monarch conservation projects, including a goal of planting 200,000 acres of milkweed.