ArbNet marks 1,000th member with first Polish accreditation

The Kórnik Arboretum, overseen by the Institute of Dendrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, represents a significant addition to the ArbNet community. It holds the oldest documented collection of woody plants in Poland and serves as a major scientific hub, featuring over 250 lilac varieties and extensive research plots that have operated for more than 50 years. Professor Andrzej M. Jagodziński, director of the Institute, noted that the accreditation elevates the institution's long-standing mission of combining scientific research with public education on a global stage.

Since its inception 15 years ago, ArbNet has doubled its network in the last five years alone, now spanning 44 countries. The program, administered from Lisle, Illinois, extends beyond traditional botanical gardens to include parks, historical sites, and campuses. Recent additions range from the sensory-focused Perkins Arboretum in Massachusetts to urban greening projects in Chicago, such as the Bloomingdale Trail. This growth aligns with broader initiatives like the Green City Rising project, which reimagines urban landscapes as interconnected networks of trees and people.