Staff Reports | Community Updates
Mayor Mark Freeman has reaffirmed Mesa’s commitment to creating habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators by signing the National Wildlife Federations Mayors’ Monarch Pledge.
This pledge, Mesa officials say, strengthens efforts to create habitats for monarch butterflies and educates residents on how they can help.
“By joining the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, the city is demonstrating its dedication to create and improve habitats for the monarch and other essential pollinators, Mayor Freeman said in a prepared statement. “As a farmer, I understand firsthand the critical role pollinators play in food production. I encourage our community to take action and help create spaces where these incredible creatures can thrive.”
To celebrate this initiative, Red Mountain Library hosted a Spring Equinox event at the Monarch Haven & Reading Sanctuary on March 22. The free, family-friendly event featured crafts, educational exhibits, and insights from Southwest Monarch Study, Desert Botanical Garden, Master Gardeners and city landscape experts, according to a press release.
Mesa is partnering with the Southwest Monarch Study, a nonprofit that researches monarch migration and breeding patterns in Arizona and the southwest. Monarch butterfly populations have plummeted over the past 20 years due to habitat loss, herbicide use, and climate change disrupting their migration.
Known for their epic multi-generational journey, monarchs symbolize hope, resilience, and interconnectedness. In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed adding them to the Endangered Species list.
Through the Monarch Pledge, Mesa joins a growing network of cities working to restore habitats in parks, roadsides, medians, and backyard gardens throughout the community, including the Monarch Haven & Reading Sanctuary. The pocket park at Red Mountain Library was completed in 2020 thanks to a grant from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
