About

Mission Statement:

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is intended to educate Northeast Florida and its regional communities about native and cultivated plants, improve its beauty and atmosphere, engage in and promote the conservation and preservation of
our natural resources, and provide public service.

Goals:

Conservation

To provide stewardship of the Arboretum lands by protecting, sustaining, and enhancing biological diversity by means of large tracts of open-space. The Arboretum also provides leadership locally and beyond in conservation matters such as the eradication of invasive species, water conservation, and the responsible use of chemicals.

Teaching

To provide an outdoor laboratory for use by college faculty and students in Botany, Zoology, Biology, Environmental Studies, and other departments. In both teaching and research the Arboretum is a unique and valuable academic resource and support facility.

Research

To support and conduct research in a broad range of subjects including ecology, field biology, conservation, and natural history. Arboretum research has and continues to emphasize useful long-term studies.

Collection

To maintain, develop, and interpret well-documented plant collections for teaching, research, and public education and enjoyment.

Public Education

To provide programs and publications about conservation, horticulture, gardening, botany, and natural history which work to enhance public understanding of the natural world and foster an appreciation of the Arboretum’s mission.

Recreation

To provide a place where people from the community may enjoy passive recreation and where they may come to learn, reflect, and renew themselves through contact with the natural world. By all the elements of the Arboretum’s mission, the Arboretum enhances the quality of life both for northeast Florida and the residents of the community.