Monarch Butterfly Conservation

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Call to Action: Plant Monarch Habitat and Pollinator Gardens
The City encourages West Hollywood residents, businesses, and property owners to create habitat in their yards and outdoor spaces to support local monarch butterflies and other pollinators by planting native milkweeds, nectar plants, and other pollinator-friendly plants. Please click on the resources below to learn how to get started and read below to learn what efforts the City is taking in support of monarch butterfly conservation.

Educational Resources & Experts
Monarch Joint Venture
Monarch Watch
National Wildlife Federation Native Milkweeds for Monarchs
National Wildlife Federation Nectar Plants for Monarchs
Theodore Payne Foundation California Native Plant Library
Western Monarch Advocates
Xerces Society

Mayors' Monarch Pledge
Mayors and other heads of local and tribal government are taking action to help save the monarch butterfly, an iconic species whose eastern populations have declined by 90% and western populations by 99% in recent years. Through the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, U.S. cities, municipalities, and other communities are committing to create habitat for the monarch butterfly and pollinators, and to educate residents about how they can make a difference at home and in their community.

Learn more about national monarch pledges online at: https://www.nwf.org/mayorsmonarchpledge.
Click here to see the City of West Hollywood's monarch pledge page and community profile.

Please reach out to Erin Hamant with questions at (323) 848-6400 or ehamant@weho.org.

2021 Badge_NWF Mayors Monarch Pledge

2022 Badge_NWF Mayors Monarch Pledge

Action Items Committed (2023)

Program and Demonstration Gardens

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 Eco-Schools USA Schoolyard Habitats program and Monarch Mission curriculum).
Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants in medians and public rights-of-way.

Systems Change

Direct city property managers to consider the use of native milkweed and nectar plants at city properties where possible.

Action Items Committed (2022)

Communications and Convening

Issue a Proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat.
Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar producing plants in community gardens.
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.
Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants in medians and public rights-of-way.
Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.

Systems Change

Direct city property managers to consider the use of native milkweed and nectar plants at city properties where possible.

Action Items Completed (2021)

Communications and Convening

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 monarch neighborhood challenge to engage neighborhoods and homeowners' associations within the community to increase awareness, support community unity around a common mission, and/or create habitat for the monarch butterfly.

Systems Change

Direct city property managers to consider the use of native milkweed and nectar plants at city properties where possible.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.