Community Profile

City of Pharr

Pharr, TX

Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Pharr, with an estimated population of 80,000 residents, is located in the Rio Grande Valley, a crucial part of the migratory route for monarch butterflies traveling to South America. Unfortunately, much of the natural habitat for monarchs and other wildlife has been disturbed due to human development and agriculture. To combat this issue, local officials are working to protect and restore habitats through various initiatives, such as the Keep Pharr Beautiful board, the Tree City USA designation, and the Mayor's Monarch Pledge. These efforts aim to educate the public about the importance of pollinators and their habitats.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2025

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 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.
Create a community-driven educational conservation strategy, initiative, or practice that focuses on and benefits local, underserved residents.

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

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez	2025	12/5/2024		View Pledge
Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez	2024	12/18/2023	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez	2023	12/9/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez	2022	2/14/2022	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez	2021	1/19/2021	Signatories	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

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