At MBGNA, sustainability isn’t just a concept - it’s who we are, infused into everything we do. Sustainability takes root here through a deep commitment to transforming knowledge into action, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and hands-on learning. Your donation will help transform research into hands-on public experiences, enhance community health through nature, and empower the next generation of sustainability leaders. Join us in making a lasting impact on both the environment and public education.
The Sustainability Campus: Catalyzing Faculty Innovation and Impact
We envision a future where sustainability innovations are woven into the fabric of everyday life; where sustainable technologies and systems are truly unified with conservation and biodiversity to build a healthier and greener world. With 800+ acres of stewarded lands on and around campus and vast visitorship, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum’s aim is simple but profound: to transform University of Michigan’s pioneering sustainability research into tangible, immersive experiences to drive public understanding.
Preparing Nature’s Workforce: Experiential Learning and Campus as Lab
Some learning is simply better gained through experience – by doing – and often outside the classroom. Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum is committed to offering opportunities that go beyond the screen and textbook; UM students aren’t just learning about environmental science, they're out in the Campus Farm fields participating in the local food system, in wetlands and collections conducting new research, or hands deep in the earth pulling invasive species like honeysuckle and garlic mustard.
Natural Futures: Sustainability, Conservation, and Stewardship
As stewards of more than 840 acres of purpose-driven dynamic natural systems and collections, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum crafts futures that honor the past and prioritize the sustainability of our ecosystems for generations to come. Initiatives such as native plant conservation, oak regeneration, improving and caring for our vast public and research collections, maintaining biodiversity through seed and rare plant conservation, and implementing emergent best practices in ecosystems services and management are at the forefront of our efforts.
Equitable Land Relations: Accessibility, Food Systems, and Indigenous Knowledge
Land and water are essential natural systems that shape our histories, identities, and interactions. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, we leverage these elements within our Living Land Lab, focusing on Tribal and Indigenous partnerships, food systems in Southeast Michigan, inclusive user experiences, and outdoor education and play equity.
Landscapes of Wellbeing: Nurturing Human Health through Nature
Connecting with nature is essential for our mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, we’re dedicated to creating meaningful experiences where people can immerse themselves in nature and experience its healing power.
