The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recognized the City of Boulder, Colorado with a Tree Cities of the World designation. The Tree Cities of the World program is committed to inspiring cities and towns to care for and celebrate their urban tree canopy.
To achieve recognition, the city met the five core standards:
- establish responsibility,
- set the rules,
- know what you have,
- allocate the resources, and
- celebrate achievements.
“The Tree Cities of the World program recognizes the efforts cities take toward greener, healthier communities,” said Hiroto Mitsugi, assistant director general, Forestry Department, FAO. “The most successful urban landscapes are those that have factored trees into the plan. We applaud the City of Boulder’s work to plant and care for its urban trees.”
Boulder’s Urban Forestry manages approximately 50,000 public trees in city parks and public street rights-of-way. The trees are regularly inspected for health, structural integrity, and safety using industry-set standards and techniques. Since 2013, more than 2,900 trees have been planted on public property and more than 3,900 trees have been given to residents to plant on private property. In 2018, the city approved the Urban Forest Strategic Plan, an assessment of and 20-year plan for the Boulder urban tree canopy, which focuses on four themes of sustainable forestry: plan, manage, protect and engage.
“Boulder is honored to be recognized as a Tree City of the World, and we hope this designation helps our community continue to act on protecting and creating a resilient urban forest for our future,” said Kathleen Alexander, City of Boulder forester. “We need to continue planting a diversity of trees to replace those lost to EAB, and to protect existing trees and encourage community members to learn more or get involved with our partners in the effort like the PLAY Boulder Foundation Tree Trust.”