Twice designated as a Tree Campus by the Arbor Day Foundation, Boise State is committed to maintaining trees and green space on campus. The university has established a campus tree advisory committee, a tree care plan and a student-led service-learning project focused on tree management and education.
As part of an evolving ecosystem, campus trees grow, change and are removed due to disease, damage or construction projects. To further steward the campus forest, the university has partnered with the Treasure Valley Canopy Network’s Urban Wood Network to evaluate, salvage and repurpose lumber from trees at the end of their life cycle.
“Trees are part of what makes campus so great,” said Amy Parrish, sustainability director. “While we strive to maintain the trees on campus, when we do have to remove a tree we’re looking for the most sustainable methods possible. This partnership will allow for the wood from these trees to live on as furniture, shelving or other useful items.”
The Urban Wood Network aims to support the local tree care industry, millers and makers as well as regional sustainability efforts through partnerships such as the one with Boise State.
“By recycling these large trees from campus, we reduce waste to the landfill, create jobs and build a local urban wood economy that creates sustainable products which can be enjoyed by local residents and businesses for years,” said Lance Davisson, executive director of the Treasure Valley Canopy Network.
The partnership’s first project will recycle trees which need to be removed for the new residence hall and from university property on Yale Court. These trees will be milled by local artisan Tom Charters with Urban Forestry Products and repurposed into sustainable, locally sourced furniture for homes and businesses.