Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Program Year

2022

Achievement

2022

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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City of Austin

Austin , TX

Steve Adler

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Austin, Texas is the 11th fastest growing metro area in the United States according to the United State Census Bureau. Despite this rapid growth The City of Austin has a strong history of wildlife conservation in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Austin was the first city in Texas to adopt the Mayor’s Monarch pledge and has a long-standing history as a Community Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. Located in the heart of Texas, Austin sits along the central fly way of the monarch butterfly migration route and is dedicated to preserving and maintaining milkweed and nectar sources for the monarch's migration.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2022

Communications and Convening ▸

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 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 community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.

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.
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
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).
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.

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.
Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Kirk Watson	2024	3/29/2024		View Pledge
Mayor Kirk Watson	2023	12/1/2022	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Steve Adler	2022	5/24/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Steve Adler	2021	4/28/2021	Leadership Circle	View Pledge