Arboretum at Loyola achieves level II accreditation from ArbNet

Loyola University Maryland’s arboretum achieved level II accreditation from ArbNet due to recent expansion and preservation.

The 80-acre Evergreen campus arboretum encompasses more than 2,200 trees that represent at least 114 varieties. Taylor Casalena, sustainability coordinator, said the contributions to the inventory, service learning courses, walking tours, developing an arboretum committee, and events over the last three years helped the University achieve this accreditation.

“The Loyola Arboretum directly engaged hundreds of Loyola community members in the vast and critical beauty of biodiversity in just over the last year,” said Casalena. “The arboretum supports Loyola’s Climate Action Plan goal to reimagine the campus landscape to protect biodiversity and inspire environmental stewardship.”

Casalena said many Loyola faculty members and students helped make the level II accreditation possible.

Jean Lee Cole, Ph.D., professor of English, and one of her English classes, which was a service learning course, worked to produce a literary inspired self-guided audio tour highlighting 13 different tree species around the Fitness and Aquatic Center. The walking tour presented by Cole’s class coincides with the existing audio tour of the arboretum on the Evergreen campus.

Lauren Spearman, Ph.D., professor of biology, conducted research with her students to determine location and plant selections of the Conservation and Experiential Learning Garden, which will bloom in April 2019.

The arboretum was officially accredited in 2013, recognizing the University's dedication to preserving dozens of tree species on the Evergreen campus. By achieving high standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens, the Loyola University Maryland Arboretum is now recognized among other professional public gardens all over the world.

The Morton Register of Arboreta is a comprehensive list and database of arboreta and other public gardens that have a substantial focus on woody plants. The purpose of the Morton Register is to identify all of the organizations that collect and display trees, shrubs, and other woody plants for the benefit of the public, science, and conservation. The Morton Register, ArbNet, and the Accreditation Program are coordinated by the Morton Arboretum as an international initiative to support the work of arboreta in saving and planting trees.

More information about the Loyola Arboretum is available at loyola.edu/sustainability and arbnet.org.