University of Iowa Launches MVTree Photo Contest

The contest invites residents to map local trees and compete in five environmental categories.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Botany

Bold vector editorial illustration of a sprawling oak tree in a park, celebrating local biodiversity and community engagement. — The University of Iowa is launching the MVTree photo contest, inviting residents to map and celebrate biodiversity in Iowa City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you find local environmental contests effective at encouraging community interest in nature?

The University of Iowa Office of Sustainability and the Environment has launched the MVTree photo contest to encourage community appreciation of local nature. Participants can nominate trees by submitting photos and descriptions to a community-powered map.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the university's ongoing tree mapping program while fostering a deeper connection to the local environment. By documenting trees across Iowa City and Johnson County, the project highlights the biodiversity of the region.

The contest features five specific categories, including Most Beloved Tree and Most Resilient Tree. The program utilizes iNaturalist for species identification, documenting the 354 distinct tree species found on the university campus.

The players

University of Iowa Office of Sustainability and the Environment

This department oversees campus environmental initiatives and manages the university's sustainability goals.

Iowa Community Integrated Geography Organization

This organization specializes in mapping technology and collaborative geographic data projects.

The details

Participants must submit a photo, a name, a description, and an explanation of the tree's significance via an online form to enter. The university partnered with the Iowa Community Integrated Geography Organization to build both the contest platform and the interactive map.

Nov. 1 is the deadline for contest nominations.
Contest winners will be announced in mid-November.

The Big Picture

The contest utilizes the iNaturalist identification platform to catalogue local flora, following a pattern set by established community-science biological surveys. This crowdsourcing approach shifts the focus from professional botanical surveys to inclusive citizen science.

Residents can participate by nominating trees located on campus, throughout Iowa City, or across Johnson County. These contributions directly populate a community-powered map that documents the regional canopy for public appreciation.

The takeaway

Engaging in local biodiversity projects helps track regional plant health while providing a record of the community's favorite natural landmarks. Residents are encouraged to document unique trees in their own neighborhoods to assist in the growing map project.