Customized Conservation
The HQT allows us to tailor each restoration or enhancement project to maximize
benefits for monarchs, for landowners, and for investors.
How Butterflies Benefit
The HQT has been customized to account for a number of specific habitat attributes across the life cycle of the monarch butterfly -- in particular the diversity and abundance of milkweed and nectar plants, which monarchs need for breeding and migrating.
These habitat attributes are evaluated as a percent of optimal condition using data-derived scoring curves. The resulting scores are subject to adjustment based on threats such as pesticide drift. Sites that score higher, or closer to optimal, will be the primary target for funding so as to maximize benefits for monarchs.

How Landowners and Investors Benefit
Application of this tool before, during and after a restoration or conservation project will enable participants to have clear expectations and better confidence that their efforts are having an impact.
For example, the results of the HQT can be used to compare different restoration scenarios, which allows landowners to maximize outcomes for monarchs in addition to the revenue potential from each project scenario. For investors, the HQT allows private companies, state agencies, philanthropic foundations, and concerned citizens to find and fund projects with the highest return on investment. It allows all stakeholders to track progress throughout the term of the project.