Cornell Botanic Gardens works to connect plants and peoples for a world of beauty, diversity, and hope.

Our natural world is extraordinarily diverse, immensely beautiful, and key to our survival. Cornell Botanic Gardens’ strategic plan is a roadmap for our organization and the university, local and global communities to lead in counteracting the devastating decline of biological and cultural diversity that threatens the very existence of many indigenous peoples and ultimately, our human species.

These strategic goals guide us in realizing our vision—a world in which the interdependence of biological and cultural diversity is respected, sustained, and celebrated—while creatively and passionately maintaining our foundational work.

 

Conserve biological and cultural diversity 

Conserve plants to stem the loss of biological and human cultural diversity

• Build authentic relationships with diverse communities for co-created efforts to expand biocultural diversity in our plant collections, education programs, and natural areas
• Prioritize conserving rare and endangered plants in our horticultural collections and natural areas

Lead in climate resilience and sustainability 

Create and curate climate forward gardens and natural areas to safeguard plants and ecosystems

• Integrate innovative practices and replicable models of climate action to safeguard plants and ecosystems and cultivate gardens and collections that exemplify climate resilience to achieve climate goals
• Use the exceptional experiences our gardens, natural areas, and educational programs afford to drive climate and sustainability action

Foster the interconnectedness of plants, ecosystems, and human health 

Cultivate a nature-rich environment to improve the health and well-being of people and planet

• In collaboration with campus partners, create a welcoming and inclusive culture where students, faculty, and staff can reap the health benefits of time in nature
• Improve our practices, programs and access to physical spaces to be more welcoming to all
• Advocate for practices and partnerships that advance interconnected health across Cornell’s campuses and in communities

Elevate our role as an asset to Cornell University 

Provide learning and research opportunities that are valued by the university

• Use our gardens, natural areas, and programs to provide students with engaged, experiential, and entrepreneurial learning
• Contribute to research through collaborations with researchers and that we conduct for Cornell Botanic Gardens