The National Wildlife Federation

Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Program Year

2024

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Action Item Report

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City of Denton

Denton, TX

Gerard Hudspeth

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Denton is a vibrant and growing community that is home to two state universities, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. With a combined enrollment of over 50,000 students, the universities attract all walks of life and bring in a variety of cultural, sports, and entertainment amenities to the Denton community. The City is also known for its music and arts scene and strong commitment to sustainability through actions such as its 100% renewable electricity supply. Since becoming a member of Monarch City USA and Bee City USA, the City of Denton has shown its commitment to pollinator protection through the creation of pollinator gardens and the development of numerous gardening workshops and events, such as Pollinator Pals and Wildlife Habitat Creation.

Community Spotlight

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 neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
  • 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.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
  • Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
  • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
  • Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
  • Earn or maintain recognition for being a wildlife-friendly city by participating in other wildlife and habitat conservation efforts (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program).
  • Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

Systems Change

  • Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
  • Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
  • Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.
  • Launch, expand, or continue one or more ordinances to reduce light pollution to benefit urban wildlife.