Campus Arboretum - Living Lab Model Project

Campus Arboretum MAIN

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.

 

map

As of 2023 there are 8 campus tree walks on campus

sign

The Campus Arboretum Program has installed 150 educational signs.

 

Next Steps

The University of Georgia Campus Arboretum showcases one of the most extensive and diverse collections of trees among large universities in the United States.  Future initiatives of the Arboretum Internship position include the addition of new Campus Tree Walks that will showcase significant trees on areas of campus that have not been previously represented.  Another important step for the Campus Arboretum is an update of the existing tree inventory.  An updated, accurate accounting of the existing tree population will better enable the University to manage this important resource and to share information about its trees. Once collected this data will be shared with the UGA community using the Campus Sustainability Archive providing both GIS shapefiles and attribute tables for those with geospatial skills, and a spreadsheet.

 

Additional resources

The Campus Arboretum project is always working to collect additional data and documents and facilitating collaborations to  engage, teach and conduct research utilizing the Campus Arboretum. The following are additional or developing resources.

 

UGA's Original Walking Tour of Trees Guidebook

UGA's first published walking tour of trees (PDF) is now available in our Campus Sustainability Archive.

 

i-Tree Ecosystem Benefits of Campus Arboretum

Using 6 tree metrics: Species ID, Diameter Breast Height,Tree Height, Crown Height & Width, and % Crown Missing this 2016 i-tree model estimates ecosystem benefits.

 

Campus Arboretum Walking Tours

Visit and learn about the trees in your area of campus using these campus arboretum walking tours.