ArbNet created its Arboretum Accreditation Program to establish and share a widely recognized set of industry standards for the purpose of unifying the arboretum community. No other international program of accreditation exists that is specific to arboreta. Any arboretum or public garden with a substantial focus on woody plants may apply. Accreditation is based on self-assessment and documentation of an arboretum’s level of achievement of accreditation standards, including planning, governance, number of species, staff or volunteer support, education and public programming, and tree science research and conservation. The entire program is free of charge.

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View listing of all accredited arboreta

The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program

• Recognizes arboreta at various levels of development, capacity, and professionalism
• Fosters professionalism of arboreta worldwide
• Enables collaboration in scientific, collections,    
  and conservation activities
• Advances the planting, study, and conservation of trees.

Benefits of accreditation

• Be recognized for achievement of specified levels
  of professional practice.
• Work toward higher levels of professional
  standards once accredited.
• Identify other organizations at similar or higher
  levels of accreditation to provide comparative
  benchmarks and models for further achievement.
• Earn distinction in your community, university,
  college, or government agency.
• Exert leadership and influence by serving as a
  model to encourage professional development in other organizations.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration with other arboreta for scientific, collections, or conservation activities.

Examples of institutions that may be accredited arboreta

• arboreta and botanic gardens
• historic properties
• college campuses
• cemeteries
• zoos
• city tree collections
• corporate campuses
• school property
• golf course
• nature reserves
• municipal parks

For specific information on which level to pursue, please visit the levels of accreditation page.

View map of all accredited arboreta