At Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, we believe that mission statements should evolve as an organization does. Our mission isn’t static—it grows alongside our gardens, through expansion of programs, and to meet the increasing number of visitors each year.
In 2023, we began implementing a three-year Strategic Plan to guide our work. Focused on various strategic imperatives, ranging from cultivating inspiring gardens to deepening community collaboration, our imperatives translate to specific goals such as “protect and advocate for plant biodiversity” and “develop strategies to protect and promote plants in wild and cultivated spaces.” Given these imperatives, and the urgency of climate change prevention, plant conservation has become an increasingly central pillar of our organization.
With input from our staff and board, we have made a mission statement revision to reflect this heightened focus.
The New Mission Statement
The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education, and plant science.
This new version replaces our previous mission statement, which read, “…to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research.”
Why the Change?
This revision is more than just a rewording—it signals a clear direction for the future of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. While the old mission served us well, these small but significant changes better reflect our priorities and the urgency of climate change:
- Re-emphasizing plant conservation: Conservation was always a focus of the Gardens’ work, but we wanted to make it an explicit and central part of our mission once again, as it was in our original mission statement.
- Broadening the scope of our scientific work: By replacing “research” with “plant science,” we highlight our expanding scientific efforts beyond traditional research. This includes critical activities like germplasm banking, propagation, and ecological restoration—all aimed at protecting plant species for future generations.
- Unifying our efforts under one vision: The word “promote” was carefully chosen to convey that every member of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens team shares a role in advancing conservation, even if they are not directly engaged in conservation work themselves.
Your Role in Our Mission
None of this would be possible without the support of our dedicated community. From first-time visitors to members and donors, your engagement makes a world of difference. Together, we’re building a future where biodiversity is cherished and the connection between people and nature is stronger than ever.
Thank you for being part of our journey and for your continued interest in and support of the Gardens. We look forward to the exciting work ahead as we fulfill our mission to inspire, educate, and conserve.
