Work

Mapping arboretum research: Trends, gaps, and opportunities for biodiversity conservation, society, and climate resilience

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Societal Impact Statement Arboreta bridge people and nature while conserving tree biodiversity, supporting climate resilience, and advancing environmental education. This study maps over a century of available and indexed arboretum research, uncovering trends, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for collaboration. It acknowledges that earlier, non‐indexed literature remains underrepresented, highlighting the need to expand arboreta in underrepresented regions and biodiversity hotspots. By showcasing their diverse roles, this work informs policies, strategies, and practices that enhance the impact of arboreta in our society. Strengthening arboretum networks can help address pressing global challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change, promoting more sustainable and informed interactions between plants, people, and the planet. Summary Arboreta—living collections dedicated to trees and woody plants—have long served as vital spaces for biodiversity conservation, scientific innovation, education, and human connection with nature. Yet, despite their growing relevance in the face of ecological challenges, a comprehensive synthesis of arboretum‐related research has remained absent from the scientific literature. This systematic map review analyzes 995 indexed publications retrieved from major academic databases to assess how arboreta have been studied across time, geography, and disciplines. Findings reveal a strong focus on conservation and biodiversity, typically examined through quantitative, flora‐centered research. Results also reflect the dual role of arboreta as centers for both conceptual understanding and applied action. Geographically, publications are concentrated in regions with long‐standing research infrastructure (especially North America and Europe) while arboreta in biodiversity hotspots and climatically vulnerable regions remain underrepresented. Collaboration patterns between researchers and institutions show increased international engagement, yet most research remains nationally bound and site specific. Taken together, these insights point to an active yet uneven field—rich in ecological focus, but with significant margin to grow in interdisciplinarity and global representativeness. Arboreta hold immense potential as institutions where science, education, culture, and care for the planet converge. Strengthening their worldwide relevance will be key to addressing the complex challenges of biodiversity loss and climate resilience in the years to come.

Source: Plants People Planet

DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.70136

Authors: Catarina Patoilo Teixeira, Vítor Ramalhosa Ferreira

Institutions: Universidade do Porto, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, INESC TEC

Language: English

Topic: Botany and Plant Ecology Studies

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,180