OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Green-Wood is a world-renowned arboretum featuring a dynamic living collection of trees and shrubs. Some of Green-Wood’s oldest specimens predate the Cemetery’s founding in 1838, and the collection continues to grow—each new planting is selected for its climate adaptiveness, wildlife value, enhancement of the beauty of the landscape, and resilience. Every year Green-Wood’s living collection is responsible for sequestering 264,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide, removing 12,000 lbs. of pollution from the air we breathe, and and mitigating 2,620,000 gallons of stormwater from entering Brooklyn’s overwhelmed combined sewer system.

Investigating Fungi

Explore the diverse fungal habitat of Green-Wood and learn how you can contribute to the fungi survey!

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Rethinking Urban Grasslands

A commitment to environmentally responsible landscape practices

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New Beetle Species

Discovered through collaboration with the United States Forest Service.

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Green-Wood is a world-renowned arboretum featuring a dynamic living collection of trees and shrubs. Some of Green-Wood’s oldest specimens predate the Cemetery’s founding in 1838, and the collection continues to grow—each new planting is selected for its climate adaptiveness, wildlife value, enhancement of the beauty of the landscape, and resilience. Every year Green-Wood’s living collection is responsible for sequestering 264,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide, removing 12,000 lbs. of pollution from the air we breathe, and mitigating 2,620,000 gallons of stormwater from overwhelming Brooklyn’s sewage system.

Investigating Fungi

Explore the diverse fungal habitat of Green-Wood and learn how you can contribute to the fungi survey!

Learn More

Rethinking Urban Grasslands

Teaming up with Cornell University to battle climate change.

Learn More

New Beetle Species

Discovered through collaboration with the United States Forest Service.

Learn More

Trees

Wildlife

Landscape

Tree Finder

Learn about our diverse Living Collection.

Tree Finder

Learn about our diverse Living Collection.

Launch
  • monk parakeets
    Monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus (Credit: Evan Rabeck)

Acres Maintained

41

As managed pollinator-friendly meadows

Trees Planted

577

In 2022

Tree Diversity

843

Unique tree species and cultivars of trees and shrubs

Species Discovered

3

Thanks to the U.S. Forest Service and Fungi Phenology Project

Year-Round Birding

Explore the bird species found at Green-Wood with Birding in Peace walking tours.

More Info

Hear from Our Experts

We invite you to listen to the reflections of individuals who have been involved in studying our rich cultural and natural history and shaping the future of Green-Wood

EXPERIENCE GREEN-WOOD
Art Presson, Vice President of Design & Landscape

CEMETERIES & THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRADITION
Aaron Sachs, Ph. D, Prof. History at Cornell University

WILDLIFE AT GREEN-WOOD
Michael McGraw, Wildlife Biologist

THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Faye Harwell, FASLA, Landscape Architect

GREEN-WOOD AS ARBORETUM
Joseph Charap, Director of Horticulture and Curator

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
Jeffrey Richman, Green-Wood Historian

PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION
Neela Wickremesinghe, Manager of Restoration and Preservation

Photo Credits (from top, left to right, approximate, excluding thumbnails): Header by Evan Rabeck, Fungi by Evan Rabeck, Urban Grasslands by Art Presson, Beetle by Mark Bohne of the USFS, Phenology by Sara Evans, Tree Finder by Art Presson, Birding by Evan Rabeck