Community Profile

City of Boise

Boise, ID

Lauren McLean

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Boise is the capital of Idaho, known for its outdoor recreation opportunities, vibrant arts scene, and growing tech sector. It boasts a mild climate, beautiful parks, and a thriving downtown area. Commitment to the Monarch Pledge: Boise recognizes the critical role of pollinators like monarchs in maintaining healthy ecosystems. We are committed to supporting initiatives that protect and restore monarch habitat, such as: Creating and maintaining pollinator-friendly gardens and green spaces throughout the city. Educating the public about the importance of monarchs and how to support their conservation. Working with local organizations to implement pollinator-friendly practices in agriculture and landscaping.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2025

Communications and Convening ▸

Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.
Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change ▸

Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
Launch, expand, or continue an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar producing plants at city properties.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Lauren McLean	2025	1/21/2025		View Pledge
Mayor Lauren McLean	2024	2/26/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor of Boise Lauren McLean	2023	3/14/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Lauren McLean	2022	4/21/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report