City of Rochester is a 2025 Monarch Champion City

by Marilyn Trent February 28, 2026

The National Wildlife Federation has named Rochester, Michigan, a Monarch Champion City for its commitment to native habitat restoration, community education and encouraging citizen engagement to support the needs of the imperiled monarch butterfly. Rochester is one of only eight cities in the United States to receive this designation for 2025 after fulfilling 24 actions and projects under the Mayors Monarch Pledge.

Essential community involvement

Each mayor has signed the Mayor's Monarch Pledge since 2017.

Left to Right: Rochester City Mayor Salvia, Rochester Pollinators Board Chair, Stephanie BurdoSmith, and Councilmember Trent.

“Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility that benefits our entire community,” Mayor Salvia said in 2025. “By signing the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, the City of Rochester is continuing its commitment to supporting pollinators and preserving the natural habitats that sustain them. Even small actions—planting native species, creating habitat, and raising awareness—can have a meaningful impact. I am proud that Rochester remains dedicated to environmental stewardship and to working together to ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.”

The award was earned through the leadership of the Rochester Pollinators committee of the Rochester City Beautiful Commission (CBC) with the support of Mayor Saliva and the Rochester City Council. However, becoming an NWF Monarch Champion City would not have been possible without many volunteers' hard work and dedication and essential partnerships with the Rochester Department of Public Works, the Parks and Recreation Department, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve, North Oakland Wild Ones Chapter and the Stoney Creek Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The City of Rochester is one of only 8 cities in the nation that were awarded this designation by the National Wildlife Federation. Read the full story here about the eight designated cities.

To achieve the designation, 24 actions were accomplished and completed. You can read the full 2025 report here.