The City of Boise is taking bold steps to address climate change and promote conservation of open space. Today, Mayor McLean and city partners gathered at Chief Eagle Eye Reserve to reinforce that commitment on Earth Day. They participated in planting pollinator plants native to the area including showy milkweed, blue flax, and western yarrow to support the reserve and honor the land.
"It's an honor to join leaders of the Shoshone-Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, along with members of the city council, in an effort to protect and restore Chief Eagle Eye Reserve today," said Mayor McLean. "We share a commitment to protecting our unique open spaces for generations to come, while honoring this reserve's history and importance to the original Boise Valley People."
The planting at Chief Eagle Eye Reserve is a partnership between the City of Boise, the Ada County Soil & Water Conservation District, the Idaho National Guard, and the Tribes of the Boise Valley. In all, 300 native plants were added at Chief Eagle Eye thanks to a generous donation by Peaceful Belly Farms. The 49-acre reserve was protected in the 1990s and lies adjacent to Eagle Rock Park and the Table Rock area. It was renamed and dedicated in 2018 to pay tribute to the indigenous people of the Boise Valley, who for centuries utilized this area as a special gathering space and consider part of their homeland.
"The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes appreciate this unique opportunity to work with the City of Boise, the Idaho National Guard and our fellow Boise Valley Tribes, to restore the native vegetation to the Chief Eagle Eye Reserve which was part of the homelands of our people,” said Devon Boyer, Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Chairman. “Our ancestors relied upon the resources of this region and would appreciate, as we do, the efforts of all involved to restore this area. "
The Treasure Valley Pollinator Project is a community-wide effort to increase pollinator habitat and raise awareness of the value they provide. This program will get 64,000 flowering plants in the ground, educate participants on pollinators and how to create healthy spaces for them, and inspire community engagement and citizen science. Pollinator plants included in this Earth Day restoration project are enclosed in seedling protectors at the site and interpretive signage will be placed to help educate reserve and park users about the native habitat, pollinator project and tribal perspectives.
CAMPAIGN FOR NATURE: 30X30
Habitat restoration is a large part of the city’s long-term goals related to climate action and conservation. On Earth Day, Mayor McLean also announced the city’s participation in the Campaign for Nature: 30x30 initiative. The global goal of the campaign is to conserve at least 30 percent of land and waters all over the world by 2030. It’s an ambitious undertaking, but one that will help protect clean drinking water sources, combat the negative impacts of climate change, protect endangered species and more.
Inspired by this effort, the city has established some actionable and attainable goals unique to our community to support the initiative. Examples include expanded planting of pollinator plants in parks and open spaces, increasing the city’s tree canopy through the City of Trees Challenge, and raising additional funds to protect open space and enhance community restoration projects.
To learn more about Boise’s specific 30x30 goals and action items, including how to get involved in volunteer opportunities, visit our website.
ZOO BOISE CONSERVATION DONATION
In an effort to encourage local restoration efforts, Zoo Boise is committing another $50,000 in conservation funds to support projects in the Boise Foothills and along the Boise River in 2021.
“Zoo Boise’s generous donation shows just how important local conservation work is to our overall mission of native plant and animal protection across the globe,” said Doug Holloway, Boise Parks and Recreation director. “This money will be used for plantings in our open space reserves, restoration work in the foothills, ecosystem support in our parks and more.”
Boise Parks and Recreation’s open space division oversees various planting and restoration projects each year. Chief Eagle Eye Reserve is one of 12 reserves owned and managed by the City of Boise. In total, they cover approximately 5,000 acres.