Elaine Clegg

city of trees challenge

Six people, wearing rain jackets and hats, smiling and standing behind a small tree with yellow leaves, outdoors in a garden on a rainy day.
Logo for Elaine Clegg City of Trees Challenge featuring a stylized tree with a triangular shape, green background with wavy lines, and blue circular border with white text.

What is it?

Boise is known as the City of Trees, but that legacy is not guaranteed. As our community grows and the climate continues to shift, planting and caring for trees has never been more important.

Trees offer more than beauty for our neighborhoods. They clean our air, cool our homes, protect our waterways, and help bring people together.

The City of Trees Challenge is a call to action: to protect our urban forest, invest in climate resilience, and create a greener, healthier Treasure Valley for future generations.

Our History

Launched on Arbor Day 2020 with the City of Boise and Council President Elaine Clegg, the City of Trees Challenge set an ambitious goal:

One tree for every household in Boise

One forest seedling for every resident planted in Idaho’s forests by 2030

In just five years, the Challenge has taken root as a model of local and national climate leadership.

Group of people in construction gear including hard hats and gloves, outdoors in a wooded area with bare trees.

Now, we’re growing stronger in local neighborhoods through our Tree Captains Program, advancing tree equity throughout the Treasure Valley and offering free trees for homes in the City of Boise.

Logo for Boise Tree Captains, part of the City of Trees Challenge, featuring stylized trees and a compass within the letter O.

Current pROGRESS

20,468 Urban Trees Planted

Indoor greenhouse with rows of small green plants in black pots.

235,000 Seedlings Planted

Community Planted Trees

Have you planted a tree at your home?

You can help by recording new tree plantings. Help us track the benefits of your tree

Record your tree
A woman kneeling on the grass planting a small tree with pink blossoms in a park.

Get Involved!

Resources
Free Tree Program
Boise Tree Captains
Volunteer
Group of people planting a young tree in a hole in the grass beside a sidewalk and street.

WATCH THE CHALLENGE IN ACTION

The logo of The Nature Conservancy with the word Idaho underneath.
U.S. Forest Service badge with green background, yellow border, yellow text, and a yellow tree in the center.
Logo featuring a stylized depiction of the Idaho State Capitol building with trees and the text 'BOISE' and 'City of Trees' beneath it.
Logo featuring three stylized green pine trees above the text 'TREES IDAHO' in bold green capital letters.