Community Profile

Concord

Concord, NC

Steve Morris

Mayor of Concord

Pledge Summary

Concord, North Carolina, is home to more than 115,000 residents and is the 10th largest and 7th fastest-growing city in the state. Concord is proud to be a certified National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat. The City’s mission is to enhance quality of life by providing excellent service, planning for the future, and collaborating with the community. Concord has a rich history and strong economy, values its natural beauty, and is committed to working with the community to preserve these resources for generations to come. To support this commitment, Mayor Stephen M. “Steve” Morris is pledging to make Concord a welcoming place for pollinators, helping protect the plants and wildlife that keep our community healthy and thriving.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2026

Communications and Convening ▸

Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
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.
Engage with gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters , other long-standing and influential community leaders) to support monarch butterfly conservation.
Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.

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.
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).
Host or support a monarch neighborhood challenge to engage neighborhoods and homeowners' associations within the community to increase awareness, support community unity around a common mission, and/or create habitat for the monarch butterfly.
Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
Host or support a monarch butterfly festival that is accessible to all residents in the community and promotes monarch and pollinator conservation, as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change ▸

Launch, expand, or continue an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar producing plants at city properties.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor of Concord Steve Morris	2026	3/13/2026		View Pledge
Mayor William (Bill) Dusch	2025	1/31/2025	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor William Dusch	2024	3/6/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor, City of Concord NC William Dusch	2023	3/9/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mr William C. "Bill" Dusch	2022	2/1/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Bill Dusch	2021	3/30/2021	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report