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Wildlife & Native Plants

The environment is one of Concord's Core Values. We are concerned about our natural, historic, economic, and aesthetic resources and work to preserve and enhance them for future generations.

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystems are communities of interacting organisms and their physical environment. Healthy ecosystems are biodiverse, supporting many native species of plants and animals. The healthiest ecosystems are best able to provide ecosystem services - life-sustaining benefits nature provides humankind like oxygen production, soil retention, flood management, clean water, pollination and more.

Healthy communities of wildlife and native plants mean healthier people.

Concord is a National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Community.

In 2015, the City of Concord, in partnership with the Concord Wildlife Alliance, became the fastest city to be named a Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. That title is maintained through continued efforts to educate the community and encourage the development of backyard habitats.

Get involved by providing food, water, shelter and places to raise young for wildlife at your home or business and certify your backyard habitat.

Mayors Monarch Pledge

In November 2015, Mayor Scott Padgett first signed the National Wildlife Federation
Mayor’s Monarch Pledge committing to take action in support of monarch butterflies
and other pollinators in partnership with the Concord Wildlife Alliance, a local chapter
of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (the state affiliate of National Wildlife
Federation). Mayor Dusch continued to pledge City of Concord's commitment to
action for pollinators:

Issue a Proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat.
Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods.
Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
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 gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters) to support monarch butterfly conservation.
Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.
Engage with developers, planners, and landscape architects to identify opportunities to create monarch habitat
Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
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).
Host or support a city monarch butterfly festival to promote monarch and pollinator conservation, as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat beyond monarch demonstration gardens.
Direct city property managers to consider the use of native milkweed and nectar plants at city properties where appropriate.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.

Citizens and businesses can help by making outdoor spaces welcoming to pollinating
insects like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds through landscape and lawncare
practices that:

Reduce or eliminate turfgrass

Include native host and nectar plants

Eliminate exotic, invasive plants

Leave the leaves in the fall

Concord Wildlife Alliance

In 2013 Concord City Council tasked city management with obtaining Community Wildlife Habitat certification from the National Wildlife Federation. As a result, a citizen committee was formed, and they soon realized the need for a long-term plan for continuing to improve the quality of life and conservation practices within the City of Concord. In 2014, the group formally established the Concord Wildlife Alliance as a chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. CWA helped the City of Concord obtain the official status of a Community Wildlife Habitat and continues to be a valued partner in conservation whose mission is to protect, conserve and restore wildlife and habitat in the Greater Concord Area.