The Challenge
The City of Trees Challenge responds to the call to action from NASA, The Treasure Valley Forest Carbon Assessment and the City's Community Forest Management Plan.
- This community-wide initiative inspires Boiseans to plant a new tree for every household across the city - in every corner of every neighborhood.
- We will grow the impact in forests around the state by empowering Boiseans to sponsor a forest seedling for every Boise resident (235,000 seedlings).
- Through our collective relationships with state, national and worldwide organizations, Boise, the Treasure Valley Canopy Network and The Nature Conservancy will challenge cities across Idaho, the United States and the World to join in this effort.
A Healthier More Resilient Boise
The path to a resilient Boise begins today! As we heal from the global health and economic crisis, we will come together as Boiseans and support our local businesses and green industry, to build a more resilient community and environment for the future. Tree planting will begin at a small scale this spring and expand with a larger launch in fall 2020 and continue for the next decade.
The Value
Trees cultivate and stimulate our green economy generating 10,000 seasonal and full-time jobs and over $650 million in sales. Additionally Boise's trees provide an estimated $500,000 in stormwater benefit, $300,000 in reduced summer energy use and $3.3 million in air quality benefits. The City of Trees Challenge and partners will grow that bottom line.
The Treasure Valley Canopy Network is a key partner, helping the City develop goals and resources to plan for, plant and maintain these trees over the next decade so they survive and thrive to have a positive impact on our local climate. The Network is also building relationships with local and national partners to help build and fund a Challenge that will have strong roots in Boise and branch out across Idaho and the country.
The City of Boise is partnering with Boise Farmers Market and Boise Neighborhood Associations to distribute 500 free trees to homeowners in October 2020. These valued partners will help ensure trees are distributed across the city in a safe and healthy manner to help address areas of greatest need (including: low tree canopy, equity and areas of high urban heat).
