City of Trees Challenge

One tree for every household in the city; One seedling for every person in the city.

The City of Boise is leading a new movement for community recovery and climate resiliency – we’ve set a big goal – and we need your help to make it happen.

  • Together, over the next decade we will plant one tree for every household in the city, that’s 100,000 trees!
  • We also challenge our community to sponsor one seedling for every person in the city in our forests across the state of Idaho.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the global climate crisis and impacts of the global pandemic. As an individual citizen it’s difficult to understand how you can make and impact and where to start. Scientists at NASA and elsewhere have told us that we can offset carbon dioxide by planting trees if we plant a lot of them, up to 1 trillion trees. If you break that number down and divide it into countries, states, cities, and people, there’s a part we can all play at our own home and in our community.


The city is collaborating with the Treasure Valley Canopy Network and The Nature Conservancy Idaho Chapter to engage Boise residents. The canopy network will help the city involve the local green industry to build economic recovery and resilience, while leveraging non-profit organizations locally and around the world to support this tree planting effort.

Giveaway event for Liberty Park and Borah Neighborhood Residents

SPRING TREE GIVEAWAY

    Trees Planted to Date

    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.

    LEARN MORE

    Why Trees

    Trees, by producing shade, reducing heat, conserving energy and cleaning air and water, provide a tangible climate solution that every homeowner can implement at your own home. Local data shows that urban heat is increasing across the city. City leadership and the Treasure Valley Canopy Network need you to join the challenge and plant trees to help us grow a better local climate for all Boiseans.

    Take a Tour Using our Local Heat Map

    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.

    LEARN MORE

    two people talking with masks on
    Credit to Guy Hand

    Engage

    The City of Trees Challenge is for anyone and everyone within the City of Boise and beyond! Please engage with us to make help make our city, our state and our country more healthy and resilient.

    Support the Challenge

    Donate toward the Challenge by joining our City of Trees Challenge CAUZE

    The Treasure Valley Canopy Network has joined with a local philanthropy non-profit, Cauze, to provide everyone an opportunity to support the Challenge. Your tax-deductible donation will go directly to support the planting and growth of Challenge trees in Boise and across Idaho and the US. A donation as small as $5 will plant a seedling in an Idaho forest and a donation of $400 will plant a large tree in our city. We greatly appreciate your individual investment in the health of our local environment.

    Boise Residents

    Join the Challenge – Make Your Tree Count

    • Plant and Care For Your Tree
    • Stay informed - Interested in joining and supporting the challenge, but not sure where to start?
    • Explore benefits – See what trees are doing for our community
    • Upcoming Events –TBD

    Interested Cities

    The City of Trees Challenge provides a model and resources that can be used by other cities in Idaho and across the US to build a climate resilience platform through tree planting. Contact us if your city is interested in joining the Challenge.

    Interested Partners

    The City of Trees Challenge has already built many great partners to support our platform, but we need more help! If your organization is interested in partnering to support the Challenge, contact us.

    News

    looking up at a tree from the ground

    Contact

    Contact the City of Trees Challenge team via email. 

    Are you interested in receiving updates on the challenge or participating in upcoming volunteer opportunities? Click the button below. 

    JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

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