Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Program Year

2023

Achievement

Leadership Circle

2023

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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Town of Southwest Ranches

Southwest Ranches, FL

Steve Breitkreuz

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The Town of Southwest Ranches is committed to promoting and protecting the rural lifestyle of our residents while preserving the natural environment. Following through on this commitment, the goals and objectives of Southwest Ranches’ Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Department are to provide benefit to our residents and visitors through exemplary management and maintenance of the Town’s Recreation, Forestry and Natural Resources including public lands, the Town’s Urban Forest, and the diverse wildlife that makes its home here, while cultivating a vibrant community and sense of place. The Town’s Community Wildlife Habitat Program, including our participation in the Mayor's Monarch Pledge program, plays a central role in helping residents address the needs of wildlife in our community. Our Community Wildlife Habitat team works to create awareness through the Town's website, newsletter, and using opportunities for public outreach at annual events.

Community Spotlight

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Outreach and Education

Boy Scout Troop 224 helps the Town plant pollinator species at Town Hall

Action Items Committed for 2023

Communications and Convening

  • 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

  • Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
  • 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 or maintain an outdoor education program(s) (e.g., at schools, after-school programs, community centers and groups) that builds awareness and creates habitat by engaging students, educators, and the community in planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitats program and Monarch Mission curriculum).
  • Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
  • Convert vacant lots to monarch habitat.
  • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.