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Through the work of The Dawes Arboretum’s Green Team committee, we aim to strengthen our commitment to the environment while advancing our mission statement of enriching lives through the conservation of trees, nature and history.

We Believe:

  • We believe in sharing knowledge through our collections and research.
  • We believe in minimizing single-use plastic at the Arboretum.
  • We believe in holistic habitat conservation that protects our native biodiversity of plants and wildlife, while managing invasive species.
  • We believe in strengthening community connections and engagement through collaborative projects and events.
  • We believe in repairing habitat fragmentation through installing native plant corridors Arboretum-wide.
  • We believe in reducing carbon emissions through implementing battery equipment and sourcing materials locally where possible.
  • We believe that every branch of our organization has a part to play in increasing sustainability practices.
    We believe in finding creative solutions to recycle as many materials as possible at The Arboretum.

We Are:

  • We are replacing less efficient lighting with LEDs.
  • We are composting food waste from staff lunchrooms.
  • We are integrating battery-powered equipment to minimize emissions and noise pollution.
  • We are designating no-mow areas to promote biodiversity.
  • We are utilizing more sustainable means of weed and invasive plant control, such as weed torch, vinegar, stirrup hoe removal, and cut-stump herbicide applications.
  • We are releasing beneficial insects in our greenhouse spaces to reduce pesticide use.
  • We are purchasing electric vehicles to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.
  • We are converting depleted agricultural land into reforestation sites and wetlands to sequester carbon.
  • We are becoming a resource for our community through partnered native garden design and education on pollinator friendly garden installation and management.
  • We are coordinating Arboretum-wide trash pickups annually.

We Dream:

  • We dream of installing solar panels at The Arboretum to power our facilities.
  • We dream of achieving LEED Silver certification with our new Welcome Center construction.
  • We dream of increasing tree planting and no-mow zones to contribute to higher carbon sequestration.
  • We dream of implementing more sustainable water management through increased drip irrigation in our nursery complex, rain barrels, rain gardens, permeable surfaces, and grey water recycling.
  • We dream of launching an engaging social media campaign to raise awareness about Dawes Arboretum’s sustainability initiatives.
  • We dream of creating an electric vehicle charging station, both for staff and visitor use.
  • We dream of expanding and refining our composting program.
  • We dream of The Dawes Arboretum being a regional leader on best practices of sustainability to successfully mitigate the effects of climate change.
  • We dream of completing soil testing in our gardens and habitats to better inform land management best practices.