ArbNet 10th Anniversary Wrap Up!

ArbNet’s 10th Anniversary Conference held last month was a resounding success. Under the title Partnering to Plant and Protect Trees, the Conference was convened as a celebration of 10 years of collaboration through ArbNet; it emphasized the expertise, innovation, and connectedness of our global community of tree-focused institutions. 

By the numbers

• 300 registrants from 22 countries
• 47 professionals shared their experiences and expertise
• 10 sponsors
• 17 scholarships to individuals in 14 countries
• 5 workshops
• 6 sessions
• 3 days
• 10 years celebrated!

The virtual platform was a great way to engage the global community more effectively, as we were able to welcome attendees from all around the world that may not have been able to attend in person. If you missed the Conference, don’t worry! Since the Conference was online and all of the sessions were recorded, for several months you are still able to register and watch the presentations on the conference platform (hosted by Pheedloop). If you participated in the Conference, you can go straight to the conference platform and log in with your original credentials to access archived sessions.
 
Each of the six sessions of the Conference, which included Education & Outreach, Community Forestry and Engagement, Curation and Management, Developing and Managing Trees in a Changing World, Tree Conservation, Research, and Climate Change, and Restoration: Managing Natural Areas and In situ Conservation, consisted of presentations from multiple speakers, followed by stimulating question-and-answer or discussion panels. There were also five thematic workshops that involved stimulating discussion and networking opportunities: Cemeteries as Arboreta, Keeping Track, The Ins & Outs of Plant Records, Conversations about Careers in Tree-Focused Fields, Central America Arboreta, and The ArbNet of the Future. We will continue the momentum from the Conference by fostering the networks and connections that were made as well as continue to promote and provide opportunities that align with the themes and topics of focus that were discussed during the collaborative workshops, Q&A sessions, and discussion panels.

The next ten years 

We now look forward to our next decade of continued growth as an interactive, collaborative network of arboreta and tree-focused professionals. Together we can make a significant impact on the future of trees by curating and documenting diverse tree collections, monitoring and studying pests and diseases, providing educational opportunities for our local communities, and inspiring tree champions of all ages to care for our trees now and for generations to come.

We have ambitious goals for ArbNet over the next ten years and beyond. We need to grow the arboretum network, with an emphasis on establishing and supporting arboreta in global biodiversity hotspots. We want to engage with more diverse audiences and arboreta, including urban and municipal arboreta, schools, cemeteries, retirement communities, and other types of organizations that plant and care for trees. We seek to build resources and expertise to support tree planting at all scales. 

ArbNet is committed to supporting our global community of arboreta, because trees are absolutely essential to the health and happiness of humans and society. Trees remove air pollution, reduce stress, encourage physical activity, promote social ties and strengthen communities. They provide habitat and food for animals. Finally, trees are valuable green infrastructure; money spent on urban forestry has a high return on investment.

As we navigate this human-dominated era, we need skilled people and institutions that understand the importance of trees. Maintaining healthy trees requires specific curatorial, horticultural, and management expertise because of their long lifespan, large size, and unique habit. By expanding the ArbNet community and network, and investing in planting and caring for trees, we are ultimately investing in a better world.