Monarch Butterfly Conservation

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Tempe encourages monarch butterflies and native bee populations by planting, education, and more.

Coming Soon - Tempe joining Bee City USA - stay tuned!

Tempe is a Mayor's Monarch City

In 2024, the City of Tempe and Mayor Corey Woods Joined the Mayor's Monarch Pledge. Tempe renewed is commitment to conserve monarch and pollinator populations throughout the city in 2025. Read below for the actions that Tempe has committed to.

Background:

Tempe, Arizona, is about 40 square miles nestled in the greater Phoenix metro area, all within the Sonoran Desert. Tempe is home to about 185,000+ residents, and with those residents, the city has embarked on a multifaceted approach to nurture and encourage monarch butterfly and other pollinator populations. Tempe collaborates with local environmental organizations like the AZ Wildlife Federation, ASU Researchers, and the community through a variety of interventions, including: educational programs, plantings in public spaces and gardens, and future inclusion in city plans. With unwavering dedication, Tempe serves as a shining example of how urban areas can actively contribute to the conservation of monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

Monarch and Pollinator Resources & FAQ's

Starting Sat October 25th: Pollinator and nectar seeds at the Tempe seed library. Join us in person at 6pm.

Planting for Monarchs Logo

Want some Monarch-specific information? National Wildlife Federation has a guide here.
Which Milkweed? Species Matters! National Wildlife Federation has info here. (PDF)
- Aren't Milkweed plants toxic? Only in large doses, and it doesn't taste good to human or pets! Read more from the US Fish and Wildlife Service NWS webpage here.
The City of Phoenix is also a Mayor's Monarch City.
The Desert Botanical Garden is a great resource for native milkweed info, plus other pollen and nectar plants.
Arizona Monarch Collaborative is a local group of organizations and individuals who promote monarch butterfly conservation, and advocate for the protection of important pollinator habitat.

Is there an action you'd like to help the city to undertake? Contact us!

Actions 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.
- Tempe is a 2025 Signatory - See proclamation here.
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.)
- As we expand our media presence and regional work, Tempe is broadening the scope of its communication campaign - including partnering with Phoenix on it's Planting for Monarchs Month communications.
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 developers, planners, landscape architects, and other community leaders and organizers engaged in planning processes to identify opportunities to create monarch habitat.

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.
Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
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).

Actions for 2024

Action Items:

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.
- Watch the proclamation here via YouTube.
- Read the press release here.
Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods.
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 developers, planners, landscape architects, and other community leaders and organizers engaged in planning processes to identify opportunities to create monarch habitat.
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.
Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.

Read our report here: Mayors Monarch 2024 Report (PDF)

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