Community Profile

Town of Southwest Ranches

Southwest Ranches, FL

Steve Breitkreuz

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Southwest Ranches is a Town in south Florida with a population of about 8,000. The Town is one of the few remaining areas where acre-sized parcels are still the norm and residents prize their contact with nature. Mayor Breitkreuz is committed to the fight to save habitat for monarch butterflies and all pollinators and the Town encourages residents to create and preserve habitat.

Community Spotlight

Outreach and Education

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

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.
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 ▸

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).
Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change ▸

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.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Steve Breitkreuz	2024	3/29/2024		View Pledge
Mayor Steve Breitkreuz	2023	12/22/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Steve Breitkreuz	2022	2/24/2022	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Steve Breitkreuz	2021	4/2/2021	Signatories	View Pledge

The National Wildlife Federation

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report