Monarch City USA, a nationwide organization, recently named Venice, Fla., as a Monarch City. This means the City is committed to preserve and grow the dwindling monarch butterfly population.

Monarch City USA was created in 2015 in Maple Valley, Washington, according to its website. It is a nonprofit corporation under the Washington state Department of Revenue. The organization strongly encourages America’s 19,000+ municipalities to directly help the monarch butterfly population recover through planting milkweed and nectar plants within their boundaries.

Nearly a billion monarch butterflies have vanished since 1990, according to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Monarchs are critical to nature because they pollinate plants, helping grow many foods humans and animals rely upon.

The City of Venice is grateful to the tireless volunteers who make up Venice Area Beautification Inc. (VABI), Team KVB (Keep Venice Beautiful), and Venice in Bloom, who were instrumental in helping the City achieve this designation.

 

“Venice being designated as a Monarch City is another feather in our City’s cap,” said Mayor Ron Feinsod. “I believe this will help to increase awareness of our City’s dedication to supporting the environment.”

 

Get more information at http://monarchcityusa.com/.