Levels of ArbNet Accreditation
Arboreta at all stages of development benefit from recognition and guidance.
Level I Accreditation
A Level I accredited arboretum must have some level of public access, even if it is only for certain scheduled events. It must have at least 25 labeled species of trees or other woody plants, one or more employees or volunteers, a governing group, and an arboretum plan. Examples of Level I accredited arboreta include golf courses, colleges, cemeteries, zoos, college campuses, private estates, and towns with organized tree collections.
Level II Accreditation
In addition to meeting the Level I criteria, a Level II arboretum must have a collection with at least 100 labeled kinds of trees or other woody plants, employ paid staff, offer enhanced public education programs, and have a documented policy for managing its tree collections.
Level III Accreditation
A Level III arboretum has at least 500 labeled taxa of woody plants in its collection, employs a collections curator, has substantial educational programming, collaborates with other arboreta, publicizes its collections, and actively participates in tree science and conservation initiatives.
Level IV Accreditation
Leaders in tree science and plant conservation, Level IV arboreta employ scientists who publish sophisticated research, manage living tree collections for the purpose of conservation, and take an active role in supporting global tree conservation initiatives. Level IV arboreta are large, well-known tree-focused institutions.
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