01/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2024 10:43
The City of Madison is proud to continue its dedication to the Monarch butterfly community and pollinator conservation in southcentral Wisconsin as a part of the National Wildlife Federation Mayors' Monarch Pledge Team.
The NWF Mayor's Monarch Pledge Team recognized the City of Madison as part of the leadership circle for 2023.
"We consider ourselves leaders in enhancing our use of public green space to include not just recreation or utilitarian function, but also wildlife habitat and refuge. Supporting monarch conservation fits right in with these visions and also supports the explicitly stated goals of the Pollinator Protection Task Force and our general sustainability goals," City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
City's Impact on Monarch Community
In 2023, the City created 10 acres of monarch butterfly habitat in the City of Madison. Habitats are being created on medians, stormwater land (greenways, retention ponds etc.), general parkland, vacant lots and at municipal buildings (Madison Municipal Building, Monona Terrace Events Center).
The City has dedicated a number of resources toward supporting the monarch community, and while the pledge has "monarch" in the name, the initiative is meant to conserve and educate on all pollinators.
The City does a number of things to support our monarch and pollinator communities:
Monarch and pollinator conservation is an inter-agency effort. The Engineering Division Stormwater Utility (SWU) pursues ecological restoration across much of its 1,500+ acres of stormwater land. The Parks Division owns nearly 6,000 acres of land, with acres of managed meadows throughout the park system and more than 20 conservation parks that feature large tracts of land in natural communities such as marshes, prairies, savannas and woodlands. Olbrich Botanical Gardens features native plant gardens, and hosts a variety of pollinator friendly gardening courses and events throughout the year. Monona Terrace maintains rooftop native plantings that showcase the ornamental properties of native plants.