Created to advance the planting and conservation of trees worldwide, ArbNet will celebrate its fifth anniversary this April. Launched on Arbor Day in 2011, this interactive and collaborative community of arboreta provides scientific and conservation resources to institutions focused on trees and woody plants.
Through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program, arboreta and gardens have the opportunity to receive recognition as determined by development, capacity, and professionalism and based on an arboretum’s collections and curation, education and public programming, scientific research and conservation initiatives, governance, and staff or volunteer support. To date, more than 130 arboreta in nine countries have been accredited by the one-of-a-kind program, which is sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in cooperation with the American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
To help commemorate its five-year milestone, ArbNet is offering accredited arboreta the opportunity to apply for a $1,000 grant toward arboretum management, education and public support, tree collections or tree science and conservation. Interested arboreta are encouraged to visit arbnet.org for more details. In addition, ArbNet will be launching a new quarterly newsletter.
“In the past five years, ArbNet has helped to build bridges and connections between fellow arboreta, strengthening collaborations on vital tree science, education, outreach, and more,” said Nicole Cavender, Vice President of Science and Conservation at The Morton Arboretum and ArbNet director.
“Regardless of differences in location, size or visitor experience, the purest distillation of every horticultural institution’s mission remains the same: To connect people and plants,” added Ethan Kauffman, Garden Director of ArbNet-accredited Moore Farms Botanical Garden in Lake City, South Carolina. “ArbNet accreditation is a strong indication that we are doing just that. We are pleased to be placed alongside so many of the finest gardens and arboreta from throughout the US and world.”
