Wildlife Habitat Preservation
Nampa Parks and Forestry recognizes that with city growth, natural space and wildlife refuges are being lost, forcing wildlife to relocate. We are committed to growing our communities while preserving and protecting wildlife. This balance is important for a healthy ecosystem in Nampa’s urban environment. Using urban trees as wildlife refuges adds to a long list of benefits provided to our community by Nampa’s urban forest. Nampa Parks and Forestry will begin selecting and dedicating trees that have reached the end of their life cycle within Nampa’s pathways and nature areas as Wildlife Habitat Trees. These trees will provide ecological niches (microhabitats) that will be used by various animals, plants, and fungi as a place to live, forage, and breed. We encourage citizens to help Nampa Parks and Forestry observe and protect these dedicated trees for wildlife preservation. Look for posters marking designated trees as participants in the Wildlife Preservation Habitat program.
The Value of Nampa's Urban Forest
Urban trees are valued for the ecosystem services they provide - energy conservation, carbon sequestration, air quality enhancement, and stormwater mitigation. Additionally, urban trees are valued for the social services they provide, including their effects on the health and wellness of humans.
Microhabitats
Microhabitats are ecological niches such as cavities, bark pockets, large dead branches, epiphytes, cracks, sap runs, or trunk rot. These microhabitats are used by a number of animals, plants, and fungi as a place to live, forage, and breed. Overall, dying and standing dead trees, which are also known as snags, are thought to benefit hundreds of species by providing these microhabitat areas.
