Arboretum Accreditation

The Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum & East Sioux Falls Historic Site has been awarded Arboretum Accreditation – Level I from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program.

Accreditation recognizes the Arboretum for achieving professional standards to advance the planting and conservation of trees. It acknowledges the Arboretum’s commitment to and fulfillment of professional criteria: to achieve accreditation, arboreta must plant, label, and document at least 25 species of trees and woody plants; provide public access; and participate in ArbNet, an international network that promotes information exchange and collaboration among tree-focused professionals.

The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation is sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in cooperation with the American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. “Individuals and organizations have long sought definitions, standards, and means of establishing an official or legitimate arboretum,” according to Dr. Gerard T. Donnelly, President and CEO of The Morton Arboretum, which sponsors and coordinates ArbNet.  “No other national or international program of accreditation exists that is specific to arboreta,” he said.