Cofrin Memorial ArboretumEdit

The Cofrin Memorial Arboretum is a large, naturally focused landscape that surrounds the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It represents a deliberate effort to protect a mosaic of regional habitats—oak savannas, tallgrass prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and shoreline ecosystems—within easy reach of students, faculty, and the broader community. As a living classroom and research site, the arboretum supports ongoing studies in ecology, conservation, and biodiversity while also offering opportunities for recreation and quiet enjoyment of the outdoors. The name honors the Cofrin family, longtime local supporters of the university and its mission to preserve native landscapes.

History

The arboretum’s origins lie in mid- to late-20th century campus planning and land-management decisions that sought to conserve representative portions of the region’s natural heritage. Over time, university staff and researchers formalized a program to protect native habitats on and around campus, integrating teaching, research, and public access. The Cofrin Memorial Arboretum was established as a memorial and a living laboratory, with stewardship grounded in a philosophy of conserving representative ecosystems while providing a setting for experiential learning for students in Environmental science and related fields. The designation and ongoing development reflect a broader commitment to balancing higher education with ecological responsibility on campus lands.

Geography and habitats

The arboretum spans a substantial portion of the campus periphery and adjacent countryside, creating a continuum of habitat types typical of the Upper Midwest. Visitors encounter:

Oak savannas and woodland edges, which host a mix of native trees and grasses adapted to fire- and drought-prone conditions. These areas illustrate the region’s historical savanna ecosystem and the ecological role of disturbance in maintaining biodiversity. See oak savanna.
Prairies and grasslands that support a diversity of grasses, forbs, and pollinators, offering a window into pre-settlement landscapes and modern restoration practices. See prairie.
Wetlands, marshes, and riparian zones along streams and small water bodies that sustain amphibians, waterfowl, and other aquatic life.
Transitional zones between upland and wetland habitats, which contribute to the landscape’s overall ecological richness.

The arboretum’s position around the campus makes it a natural laboratory for field studies in [habitat restoration], [biodiversity], and the dynamics of native plant communities. See habitat restoration and biodiversity.

Ecology, education, and research

As a core component of campus biology and environmental programs, the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum serves multiple scholarly and educational functions:

Field-based instruction for courses in ecology, conservation biology, botany, and environmental science, with hands-on opportunities to study native species, plant demography, and habitat interactions.
Long-term ecological observations and research projects that track changes in species composition, fire regimes, and restoration outcomes. See Long-term ecological research.
Public education and outreach, including guided walks, interpretive signage, and opportunities for community members to engage with native landscapes in a conservation-focused setting.
A complement to other campus and regional conservation initiatives, reinforcing a broader strategy of preserving representative ecosystems in the region. See conservation.

Management, access, and debates

The arboretum is maintained by the university's natural-area programs, with restoration practices that reflect current best practices in ecology and land stewardship. Fire management, invasive species control, and habitat restoration efforts are among the tools used to maintain the health and authenticity of native communities. See prescribed burn and invasive species.

As with many large natural areas on university campuses, stewardship discussions occasionally surface about the balance between ecological preservation and public access, academic use, and campus growth. Proponents of preservation emphasize the educational value of protecting intact ecosystems, the benefits to regional biodiversity, and the importance of maintaining ecological processes such as fire in oak savanna and prairie management. Critics or alternative voices may advocate for broader public access, additional recreational facilities, or greater consideration of development pressures around campus. In practice, management decisions tend to weigh ecological integrity, funding availability, and instructional needs, while seeking to minimize disruption to ongoing research and teaching. See conservation and education.

Cultural and regional significance

The arboretum highlights a regional history of land stewardship and a public university’s role in sustaining native landscapes amid development pressures. It functions not only as a site for science but as a shared space where students and community members can observe, reflect on, and learn from the natural world that characterizes the Upper Midwest. Related topics of interest include regional ecology, adaptive management, and the intersection of higher education with local land-use policy. See regional ecology and conservation.