is a proposed arboretum for the University of New
Hampshire at Durham and the entire seacoast
area. The intent is to certify the University grounds as an
"ecological garden" with the American Association of Botanical
Gardens and Arboreta; to convert the campus landscape (over time)
to more reflect ecological and sustainable management practices,
and improve the human experience and habitability of the outdoor
environment.
Arboreta and botanical gardens of the world are tree and plant
"museums" focused on education, research, and artful demonstration
in the materials of horticulture. A number of colleges and
universities--especially those known for the beauty of their grounds--
make a point of unifying their landscapes under the umbrella of a
botanical garden or arboretum (such as the Arnold Arboretum of
Harvard University). The campus arboretum or botanical garden
focuses attention (individual and collective, psychological and
financial) on the daily living environment of the
human population. As a result, that environment improves measurably,
as does the comfort level and satisfaction of those living within it.
A strong educational component, often combined
with research and extension, is also common.
This proposal envisions the UNH campus landscape as a botanical
garden, but one for the 21st century: a sustainable, systems-based,
bioregional New England Ecological Garden. This will consist of
plant and animal communities of the area integrated artfully into
the campus landscape, designed and managed to work with the natural
processes that are often overlooked by conventional landscaping.
The Garden's primary goals are to increase the overall
livability, sustainability, and beauty on campus. Other benefits will
include:
- 1) Lowering landscape maintenance costs.
- 2) Increasing ecological health and diversity.
- 3) Enhancing the psychological well-being of the campus
community.
- 4) Educating the University population in the structure and
function of the local watershed ecosystem as well as
sustainable landscape management practices.
- 5) Providing new educational resources for students of Plant
Biology, Natural Resources and the Environment, Environmental
Conservation, Recreation Management, Horticultural Technology, and
other departments and programs.
- 6) Extending sustainable landscape practices beyond the
University into public, private, institutional, corporate and
commercial landscapes of the New England region.
- 7) Furthering cooperation and collaboration between the
University and its watershed neighbors, including the Towns of
Durham, Newmarket, Lee and Madbury.
- 8) Augmenting the funding of campus landscape improvements by
providing an attractive and timely target for federal, state, and
private agencies interested in furthering the emerging paradigm of
sustainable living.
- 9) Promoting student,staff and faculty involvement in our
immediate environment.