The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, a nonprofit that supports nature education and conservation programs, received a $90,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation in early September to help fund the restoration of the center's woodland habitats.

According to a Sept. 2 news release, the grant is a part of the Fall 2025 Conservation Project list and will be used to support hiring Student Conservation Association, or SCA, program participants to help remove invasive plant species at the Arboretum.

Did you know?

The Houston Arboretum is home to many diverse ecosystems, including:

• Savanna: A grassy woodland characterized by scattered trees, a tropical climate and dry seasons
• Prairie: An area with flat grasslands, moderate temperatures, rainfall and few trees
• Wetland: A transitional area saturated by water that helps control floods and provides food for animals
• Woodland: A habitat usually dominated by woody vegetation with a dense cover of trees and shrubs
• Bayou: An often slow-moving, shallow and wooded waterway with brackish water and wildlife such as alligators, birds and fish

According to the center's website, the different ecosystems play a vital role in reducing flooding, mitigating chemical and bacterial pollutants and combating the Urban Heat Island Effect—a phenomenon in which metropolitan areas are significantly warmer than their surrounding rural landscapes.However, officials from the Arboretum said the center, like many protected natural areas, is facing challenges from invasive plants, which, according to the U.S. Forest Service, are non-native, non-beneficial plants that often spread aggressively into a new ecosystem, harming native plants, wildlife and the overall ecosystem health.

The project

According to the news release, the fall conservation project aims to remove those invasive plant species growing within the Arboretum to create a more resilient woodland environment, aiding long-term improvement in ecological diversity and a healthier, more sustainable landscape.

The grant will also help the nature center hire students from the SCA, a nonprofit organization in Houston that provides hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults, to assist in the removal.

“The Arboretum’s ecosystems do more than protect wildlife; they protect Houstonians," said Debbie Markey, executive director of the Houston Arboretum. “This generous grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation allows us to strengthen the Arboretum’s ability to act as a climate buffer, while also mentoring the next generation of conservation professionals."

One more thing

The 155-acre nature sanctuary is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and consists of five miles of trails and walkways, field stations, gardens, a discovery room, nature shop and nature playscape. The center also provides guided hikes, nature camps and monthly activities for children and adults. Entry is free, with a cost for parking.