The term “urban forest” is often used to refer to all the trees within a city or town. But the urban forest is part of a much larger social-ecological landscape that supports a complex web of biodiversity, ecosystem services, values, and cultures.  The...

Hear from a diverse panel on how to use inclusive interpretation of gardens and historic landscapes to reach a broader audience.

Panelists include Shaun Spencer-Hester of the Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum, Lynchburg, VA; Peggy Cornett...

Diverse perspectives and approaches to learning and knowing can strengthen our work in urban and community forestry. Indigenous and local knowledge is embedded in the concept of biocultural stewardship - an approach to working with communities...

This session highlights the unique roles artists and art play in creatively inspiring, engaging, and empowering the public to care about nature, and take action to address today's critical ecological issues. Elayna Toby Singer shares strategies from...

Diversification of urban forests is essential to enhance their resilience to future biotic
threats as well as those posed by a changing climate. Arboreta and botanic gardens
host a wide range of plant material that can be evaluated to...

Positive interactions between people and nature inspire behaviours that are in harmony
with biodiversity conservation and also afford physical and mental health benefits.
Since most people live in towns and cities, urban greenspaces are...

Native plants are important to the landscape. However, there is little clear information out there informing the lay public on native plant scientific benefits, uses in the landscape, and sourcing of plants. As centers of science, public gardens have a...

Tree planting can help communities achieve many resiliency goals such as cooling heat islands, reducing stormwater floods, and building neighborhood cohesion. But trees can only do these things if they survive and thrive to maturity. CommuniTree is a...

As land-use patterns change over time, some pollinating insects continue to decline both in abundance and diversity. This is due, in part, to reductions in floral resources that provide sufficient nectar and pollen. Our overall goal is to help increase...

This Plan is intended to outline plans for preparing for emergencies and for immediate response and short-term recovery efforts in an emergency. In addition, it contains plans for the security of the Arboretum's living and non-living collections and...

North America’s agricultural and natural landscapes are vital to feeding humanity—they are home to many populations of important food plants and their wild relatives. Climate change is projected to significantly impact the agricultural sector and any...

Agriculture is comprised of managed ecosystems, which can include forests, rangelands
and crops; these managed ecosystems are vital resources, providing a host
of economic and societal benefits. However, these systems face a multitude of...

Despite the importance of bees, there is a gap in the public's understanding of them. To help address this gap, we developed the outreach tool Experience Bees, a series of simple learning and hands-on activities to teach community members about bees...

Urbanization is a large driver of biodiversity globally. Within cities, urban trees, gardens, and residential yards contribute extensively to plant biodiversity, although the consequences and mechanisms of plant cultivation for biodiversity are...

Improving urban forests is one of the solutions to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and making cities healthier and more livable for people. Priority should be given to protecting mature trees and promoting long‐...

Public gardens can demonstrate their economic, environmental, and social impacts to demonstrate their value to surrounding communities by utilizing valuation tools for development and sustainability policies. The use of impact studies can play a vital...

Green spaces (zoos, city parks, and urban farms) and cultural institutions are capturing our gap audiences—racial minorities, youth and young adults, and people of lower socioeconomic status. Come find out why it is important to engage and collaborate...

As interest in native plants and their habitats grows, what roles do we play as public garden professionals, in nurturing and expanding this interest, and providing sufficient learning opportunities? Members of this panel will present several methods...

Award-winning landscape designer, author, and thought leader Julie Moir Messervy shares her design studio’s visioning process that allows stakeholders to collaborate in creating special gardens of beauty and meaning for their public gardens. With an...

Studies show that only a small percentage of visitors who come to public gardens do so because of the specific plant collections. Most visitors come for educational programing, spiritual rejuvenation and quiet spaces, or even exercise. Art can be a...