There are many existing programs that encourage habitat creation by recognizing participants who meet specific criteria. Some programs offer assistance or interpretive signage to participants. For example, the University of Minnesota Monarch Lab has developed a monarch habitat recognition program which includes categories for monarch gardens, agricultural habitats, restored or natural areas, and managed areas.

The “Success Stories” habitat recognition program can be found on the main navigation menu of the MJV website. The goal of the program is to recognize successful habitats by creating a map and giving more information about each habitat on the MJV website, and, possibly, by awarding outstanding efforts in the categories identified. As more habitats are submitted to the online map, users can explore what others have done in their area and across the country to help monarchs. Recognitions will be displayed to inform and encourage future monarch habitat conservation projects. The Success Stories map also is a useful educational tool that shows the variety of monarch habitat types.

Other habitat certification programs include: the Monarch Watch Monarch Waystation Program, the North American Butterfly Association Butterfly Garden and Habitat Program, the Wild Ones Butterfly Garden Recognition Program, the Xerces Society Bring Back the Pollinators Program, the National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitats Program, the Pollinator Partnership “Simply Have Areas Reserved for the Environment” map, and the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. Several of these programs have separate project descriptions listed (MJV 2013).

• Monarch Joint Venture. 2013. Monarch Success Stories Program. Consulted online 15 January 2016 at: http://monarchjointventure.org/our-work/monarch-habitat-recognition-program.

Keywords: gardening, habitat, mapping, model concept, restoration