Mesa's Mayor Mark Freeman has doubled down on the city's commitment to monarch butterflies, signing the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, as reported by Mesa Now. With this, Mesa pledges to create vital habitats for monarchs and educate locals on ways to support the butterfly population.
Freeman stated, "As a farmer, I understand firsthand the critical role pollinators play in food production." He went on to invite the community to engage in building spaces where these necessary critters can prosper.
The Red Mountain Library will be hosting a Spring Equinox event on Saturday at the Monarch Haven & Reading Sanctuary. Between 10:00 a.m. and Noon, a lot of activities will be held, designed to enlighten both young and old about the plight and beauty of the iconic monarchs. Family-friendly crafts, educational exhibits, and insights from the Southwest Monarch Study, the Desert Botanical Garden, Master Gardeners, and city landscape experts will be on deck.
The stakes for these butterflies are sky-high; their populations have seen a sharp decline over the past two decades. Causes include habitat destruction, liberal herbicide practices, and the ever-present shadow of climate change, according to Mesa Now. Recognizing their peril, in December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service even proposed adding them to the Endangered Species list. Mesa's partnership with the nonprofit Southwest Monarch Study aims to gain valuable insight into how best to curb this downward spiral.
By signing the Monarch Pledge, Mesa joins a network of cities countrywide committed to reviving habitats not just in the wild but in urban spaces as well such as parks, roadsides, and even back gardens.
