Cornell University
IN-25: Innovation B

The Sustainable Landscapes Trail highlights the sustainable design and ecosystems services of living laboratory designed natural spaces across campus. A digital map and physical trail features open spaces, natural areas, and landscapes with unique sustainability features which encourage community members to appreciate and understand the human and planetary wellness features of the natural campus landscape. Spots include bioswales designed by students which protect a parking area, and natural and native plantings across prominent academic spaces. With a combined emphasis on education and encouraging appreciation of nature, the trail highlights our campus commitment to creating a sustainability culture for people and planet.

This initiative was launched in 2017 and was developed by the Land Team of the President’s Campus Sustainability Committee, which is made up of members from faculty in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, the Grounds Department, Infrastructure, Properties and Planning, and Cornell Botanical Gardens, and includes a mix of engaged students, faculty, and staff at all levels who collaborate and innovate together. The trail helps fulfill the Green Infrastructure innovation goal of the Cornell Climate Action Plan. This contributes to the goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2035. One of the goals of the Sustainability Landscapes Trail is that the landscape should support the goals of Nature Rx, “to reduce stress and thereby increase physical and mental health in students through their engagement with nature, and to cultivate in students an increased appreciation of nature”.