From the City of Sugar Land:
Mayor Joe R. Zimmerman signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge on Earth Day 2021 committing to take action to help save the declining monarch butterfly and other pollinators.
The city of Sugar Land is now part of an expanding North American network of cities working to create habitat in public parks, public landscaping, roadsides, medians, backyard gardens and open spaces throughout the entire community.
“Due to the efforts of our Parks and Recreation Department in recent years to develop the butterfly garden and pollinator habitat at Brazos River Park, I feel confident making this pledge for our city,” said Zimmerman. “We are grateful to community partners such as Keep Sugar Land Beautiful and our hard working volunteers for their contributions in creating habitats for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators.”
Found across the United States, monarch butterflies numbered around 1 billion in 1996. Today, their numbers have declined significantly as a result of numerous threats, particularly the loss of habitat due to cropland conversion, urban development and agricultural practices.
Through the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, cities and municipalities commit each year to create habitat and educate residents on how to make a difference at home or in their community. Mayors who take the pledge commit to at least three of 30 action items to help save the monarch butterfly, including creating a monarch-friendly garden at a culturally significant community location, displaying educational signage at monarch gardens and changing mowing schedules to allow milkweed to grow unimpeded.
“Cities, towns and counties play a pivotal role in advancing monarch butterfly conservation in urban and suburban areas,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior director of community wildlife at the National Wildlife Federation. “By working together, we can ensure that every American child has a chance to experience majestic monarchs in their communities.”
For more information about Department offerings and conservation efforts, contact Sugar Land Parks and Recreation at (281) 275-2825 or visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/parks.
For other updates, follow Sugar Land Parks and Recreation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @SugarLandParks.