A Legacy of Trees: Designing Arboretum for Conservation, Education, and Public Engagement

Dear Colleagues,

Trees are fundamental to the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems, providing habitats, regulating climate, and supporting biodiversity. However, they are increasingly under threat from deforestation, climate change, and human exploitation. Arboreta and botanical gardens play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges through innovative approaches to conservation, education, and public engagement.

This Special Issue, A Legacy of Trees: Designing Arboreta for Conservation, Education, and Public Engagement, will highlight the multifaceted contributions of arboreta to the preservation of tree species and ecosystems. It will explore how arboretum design can integrate scientific research, ex situ conservation, ecological restoration, and education to create spaces that inspire and inform visitors while advancing conservation goals.

We hope that the contributions to this Special Issue will showcase novel strategies for cultivating tree species, fostering public awareness, and promoting biodiversity through collaborative initiatives. By combining ecological expertise with public outreach, arboreta can continue to serve as living laboratories and centers of hope in the face of global environmental challenges.

We invite manuscripts that will underscore the importance of arboreta as models for sustainable practices, guardians of genetic diversity, and advocates for the critical role of trees in our shared future.

Brief Introduction:

This Special Issue explores the indispensable role of arboreta in addressing contemporary environmental challenges, particularly the preservation of tree species and ecosystems. Trees are foundational to terrestrial ecosystems, offering essential services such as climate regulation, habitat provision, and biodiversity support. Yet, these vital resources face increasing threats from deforestation, climate change, and unsustainable human practices.

Arboreta and botanical gardens are critical players in conservation science, combining ex situ conservation, ecological restoration, and education within thoughtfully designed spaces. By serving as living laboratories, they provide platforms for advancing research, safeguarding genetic diversity, and promoting sustainable practices. This Special Issue seeks to highlight innovative approaches in arboretum design that integrate scientific inquiry with public engagement to inspire stewardship and broaden awareness of the ecological significance of trees.

Building on the existing literature on the conservation of plant species, urban green spaces, and biodiversity education, this Special Issue seeks to fill a critical gap by emphasizing arboreta as holistic models that unify research, conservation, and outreach. It aims to demonstrate how these institutions act not only as repositories of genetic diversity but also as advocates for the critical role of trees in climate resilience and ecological stability.

Through the contributions of scientists in this field, this Special Issue aims to illustrate how arboreta can foster community engagement and collaborative action in preserving biodiversity, positioning them as essential tools in global efforts to address environmental challenges and safeguard a sustainable future.

Dr. Thaís Moreira Hidalgo de Almeida
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• arboreta
• botanical garden
• tree conservation
• ex situ conservation
• environmental education
• living collection
• public engagement