Overview
The University of Georgia Campus Arboretum was officially established on April 12, 2000. Each and every tree on the University’s main campus is a member of the “Campus Arboretum.” A fundamental component of the Campus Arboretum is the series of Tree Walks that have been established throughout campus to highlight the diversity and unique specimens of the University’s collective canopy. Tree Walks are showcased on the Arboretum’s website and identified with signage throughout campus. UGA was first recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA in 2010. This designation requires specific commitments from the University including a Tree Care Plan, an Arbor Day Observance, an accounting of tree-related expenditures and an annual Service Learning Project. In 2019, UGA’s Office of Sustainability and Grounds Department collaborated to create an Arboretum Internship, a position dedicated to the advancement of the Campus Arboretum.
Outcomes
Utilizing the efforts of the Arboretum Intern, a new Arboretum website was developed in 2019 to better showcase the Campus Tree Walks. The website uses storymaps comprised of photographs and descriptions to help educate visitors about campus trees. Another improvement of the website includes the reorganization of existing Tree Walks; what were once lengthy walks that sprawled out over large areas of campus have been redefined as smaller, more manageable walks that can be completed in much less time. A new signage program was also initiated in 2019; new interpretive signs were fabricated and installed along Tree Walks throughout campus.
