UNM Recognized for Second Consecutive Year by Arbor Day Foundation Ahead of Annual Celebration

Image: UNM Campus Tree & Arboretum Committee Member Richard Perce, conducting a Tree Tour on UNM Central Campus

The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized The University of New Mexico for the second consecutive year as part of the Tree Campus Higher Education program, honoring the University’s commitment to tree education, stewardship, and community engagement.

UNM’s Albuquerque campus features 5,000 trees representing 235 different species and is also a nationally accredited arboretum.

“Trees are essential infrastructure that make our campus healthier, cooler, and more welcoming,” said Shawna Wolfe, vice president of UNM Institutional Support Services. “Investing in our campus tree canopy improves the long-term resilience of our university, and the well-being of everyone who learns, works, and gathers here. We’re proud to receive this recognition again from the Arbor Day Foundation and to continue growing and caring for UNM’s urban forest.”

Tree Campus Higher Education recognition requires colleges and universities to uphold five standards as part of the program: maintain a tree advisory committee, implement a campus tree care plan, document annual investment in tree management, celebrate Arbor Day, and engage students through service-learning projects.

UNM Facility Services’ Grounds & Landscaping unit organized numerous tree-planting events in 2025, including Campus Clean Up Days in April and Fall Frenzy in October.

Significant new plantings were also completed as part of the construction of the UNM Hospital Critical Care Tower, that included both new trees and additional landscaping. Other recent enhancements feature umbrella catalpas near the Duck Pond, along with western shagbark pecans, and Camperdown elms.

Landscapers, campus arborists and volunteers planted a total of 222 new trees at UNM during 2025.

Arbor Day Celebration – Campus Clean Up & Arboretum Tour Launch

UNM will host two events in celebration of Arbor Day on April 24. Events are open to the campus and surrounding community, and volunteers can participate in a Central Campus Cleanup from 10 AM - 12 PM, that will include tree plantings and other campus beautification activities.



After the cleanup, the UNM Office of Sustainability and its partners will launch a new series of public arboretum tours at the Duck Pond, starting at noon. The tours were developed by UNM alumni Richard Perce as part of his master of Community and Regional Planning professional project. The routes include new physical signage and integration with the UNM Interactive Campus Map.

Initial tour themes include “UNM Arborist Rockstar Trees,” highlighting species uncommon in New Mexico, and “UNM History Through Trees.” Future routes will explore cultural uses of trees and climate-ready tree species.

To receive more information about the Campus Clean Up and Arbor Day Arboretum Tour launch, join the UNM Office of Sustainability mailing list, or check the Office of Sustainability Events Page for details.

Volunteer TODAY at our Food Waste Audit

The University of New Mexico Office of Sustainability is partnering with GPSA, Facility Services, the UNM Food Recovery Network, Student Union Building, and Sustainability Studies to host a Food Waste Audit at the SUB TODAY, March 10th from 12 PM – 4 PM.

Volunteers will help sort and analyze food waste to better understand dining habits and identify opportunities to reduce waste on campus. Food waste reduction is a top priority at UNM and a key goal of the Sustainability Strategic Plan.



Students, staff, and faculty are invited to sign up for a 1-hour volunteer shift and help support more sustainable dining practices at one of UNM’s largest campus food hubs.

Use the QR Code to register to help today or come see us outside the SUB near SHAC.

The inaugural meeting took place at one of UNM's LEED-certified Gold buildings, PAIS.

You can review UNM's 2025 Sustainability Strategic Plan on our site.

UNM Sustainable Advisory Council Holds Initial Meeting

The University of New Mexico Sustainability Advisory Council held its inaugural meeting on March 4th, bringing together representatives from across campus to support implementation of the university’s Sustainability Strategic Plan.

Council members received an overview of the five-year plan, which focuses on transforming campus operations and building a culture of sustainability through goals related to energy, water, waste reduction, transportation, food systems, and engagement. Many of our council members are already working on these initiatives, and this meeting helped emphasize all the work being done to move the needle on sustainability at UNM.

During the meeting, council members also discussed how the areas they represent contribute to advancing sustainability goals and identified collaboration opportunities to help guide the university’s progress over the next five years. The plan is moving forward with initiatives such as expanded solar capacity, electric vehicle adoption, food recovery efforts, and pilot programs to modernize campus energy systems.

This meeting was held in Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science (PAIS), one of the newer green buildings here on campus. Our team worked with partners such as Aramark and UNM Food to bring forward a sustainable lunch option that had locally sourced options, plant forward ingredients, and was all together a low waste event.

In a team effort, UNM staff demonstrated how to host a sustainable event on campus.

April is Earth Month at UNM!

Will you be hosting an Earth Month event you would like us to post on our website? Email us with all the details.

Campus Community Events

UNM Office of Sustainability and others to table at Backyard Refuge Day!

We are excited to join the NM Backyard Refuge for their annual spring event which will be held at the Gutierrez-Hubble House (6029 Isleta Blvd. SW) from 10 AM - 2 PM.



Lobo Gardens, UNM Sustainability Studies, and many others will be tabling at this event, along with our Office! We will be promoting the ABQ City Nature Challenge and recruiting for our Office of Sustainability campus team.

We highly encourage our UNM community to attend as there will be talks and tours that expand on pollinator awareness!

Finding Observations for iNaturalist in your Neighborhood (& participate in City Nature Challenge!)

Watch the tutorials here.

Get Ready for City Nature Challenge!

The Office of Sustainability at UNM invites you to join in this year's City Nature Challenge to help document the wild plants and animals in and around urban areas! You can join our team by following this link.

This global event will take place from April 24 to May 10, 2026. The observation period is Friday through Monday (4/24 - 4/27), followed by the identification period (4/28 - 5/10). We will have an information booth at our Arbor Day celebration on the 24th at the Duck Pond.

You can make observations anywhere you find wildlife, but please spend some time documenting plants and wildlife in urban areas and neighborhoods to help fill the gaps in our urban biodiversity map! Please avoid documenting pets, people, or potted plants.

How do I participate?

All UNM students, staff, faculty, and friends are invited to join the challenge, and we want as many people as possible involved. Check out the NM Backyard Refuge page for more!

We continue to encourage folks to check out the "One Earth One Kin" exhibit at Spectra Gallery located in the Honors College Forum, Anderson School of Management Building, lower level.

Open to all 9 AM- 5 PM! 

Don't Forget About the FREE! UNM Bike Valet

As weather warms it's a great time to commute to UNM by bike. We want to remind campus about the staffed, bike parking service funded by students and designed to make riding to campus easier, more convenient, and better supported than ever.

And it's not just for bicycles! Scooters and other multi-modal vehicles can be stored.



This service promotes sustainable, active transportation by offering added convenience and an extra layer of staffed oversight beyond standard bike racks.

Explore how it works here!