GUELPH – The University of Guelph’s Arboretum has been honoured for conserving Ontario’s natural history.
The facility is the 2024 recipient of Ontario Nature‘s Natural History Award, which recognizes individuals and groups that have made a significant impact toward protecting nature in Ontario and promoting conservation biology.
The Arboretum has been an internationally renowned site of this work for more than 50 years, offering free admission and extensive community programming, with a mission to serve as an outdoor learning resource for the university and the community.
Arboretum director Justine Richardson accepted the honour at the Ontario Nature’s Conservation Awards on June 1 at the Evergreen Resort on South Bruce Peninsula.
“The Arboretum has grown in 50 years to become an essential green space,” Richardson states in a news release. “As we look at the urgencies of climate change, biodiversity loss, our obligation to Indigenous communities and the mental and physical well-being and connection to nature for our people, I believe the Arboretum has a role to play in today’s major issues.”
The Arboretum was nominated by Nature Guelph, a local charity focused on environmental education and community conservation initiatives.
“There are many organizations in Ontario with broadly similar goals of engaging the public with nature, but the Arboretum stands out for the variety, depth and reach of its activities,” its nomination reads.
‘Generations of decision-makers’ support Arboretum’s conservation efforts
With roots in the 1880s, when the Ontario Agricultural College began its studies on woody plants, the Arboretum was officially established in 1970 as a “living laboratory” for research, education, outreach and conserving biodiversity for future generations.
It now encompasses 400 biodiverse acres and is one of the most visited parts of campus, with 100,000 annual visitors enjoying its plant collections, walking trails, gardens, natural woodlands, wetlands and meadows. The forested areas include some of the oldest heritage forests in the city of Guelph.
Since the late 1970s, Arboretum staff have worked with landowners to document the status of rare woody plant species in Ontario to advise on preservation.
More than 30 species of threatened or endangered woody plants are archived in the Arboretum’s grounds and gene banks.
An example of the Arboretum’s gene bank work is the Elm Recovery Project, which began in 1998. It involves identifying and testing American elm trees for tolerance to Dutch Elm disease. Now entering its second generation of tested elms, the project aims to reintroduce biodiverse populations of disease-tolerant trees to the Ontario landscape.
The most recent addition to the gene banks is the red mulberry. As only 200 to 300 red mulberry understory trees are left in the province, the Arboretum is working with landowners and organizational partners to test and propagate them. This will establish a long-term seed orchard and contribute to species recovery.
Similarly, the Arboretum’s seed collection program protects rare and threatened seeds and plants and is used in international conservation efforts. The overall collection now numbers over 1,700 taxa of woody plants.
Arboretum inspires community to preserve natural environments
The Arboretum’s demonstration gardens, including the Japanese, English and Italian Gardens, showcase artistic and cultural diversity while informing visitors of different plantings that provide food, cover and shelter for wildlife.
Richardson states the Arboretum is a critical space to support the mental health of students during stressful times in the semester and also serves as a site of experiential learning.
A number of citizen science projects track and observe wildlife species. This contributes to scientific research data and also connects students with the community in educational training programs.
Other initiatives include the annual “Arb Expo and Plant Sale,” which brings the community together to showcase horticulture and nature. For more than 30 years, this event has provided native, locally sourced plants to the public, and offers a family-friendly forum to make connections, and tour university facilities.
“Generations of decision-makers have supported the space,” Richardson states. “My hope is that the Arboretum continues to grow and to provide a healthy space for the trees and wildlife and the people who access it.”
