Mayors' Monarch Pledge

The Township of King is committed to conserving and enhancing pollinator and monarch habitat through native wildflower plantings, wildflower and milkweed seed giveaways, educational workshops, signage, citizen science monitoring, programming as well as nature-based education. Participating in the Mayors Monarch pledge directly aligns with municipal priorities while also supporting Environmental Stewardship initiatives focused on educating and engaging residents and enhancing monarch and pollinator habitat.

Action Items Committed for 2024

Communications and Convening

• Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighbourhoods.
• Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
• Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.
• Engage with gardening leaders and partners to support monarch butterfly conservation.
• Create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition.

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Program and Demonstration Gardens

• Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
• Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
• Launch or maintain an outdoor education program(s) (e.g., at schools, after-school programs, community centres and groups) that builds awareness and creates habitat by engaging students, educators, and the community in planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar.
• Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
• Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
• Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
• Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change

• Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
• Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.

To learn more about the Mayors' Monarch Pledge visit The National Wildlife Federation.