Putting Down Roots

Putting Down Roots
A tree seedling growing up from the ground, an African landscape stretching out in the background.

We’re Celebrating You!

This year, the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) is honoring you and the rest of the incoming Class of 2028 by partnering with My Trees Trust in Zimbabwe to plant and care for 2,028 native tree seedlings.

My Trees Trust is the largest community-based indigenous tree planting initiative in Southern Africa, and they are driven by a goal to save vulnerable habitats and restore the many thousands of hectares of trees that are lost each year.

Thanks to our generous donors and alumni, we are excited to celebrate your decision to become a Wildcat with a gift that supports both environmental restoration and rural community economic development — and extends our commitment to sustainably improving our planet.

  • A photo showing the My Trees Community Nursery (background) covered by netting. In the foreground, a sign reads “My Trees Miti Yangu Community Hub”.
  • A photo Zimbabwe and the locations of My Trees Trust planting sites

    Map showing tree planting sites around Zimbabwe for the My Trees Trust.

  • A woman holds up a tree seedling. Behind her is another woman (head down) and a covering for the seedlings.
  • A photo of the My Trees Community Nursery, showing potted seedlings protected by a tarp.
  • Several rows of small trees shown, planted in the ground and beneath a clear sky.
  • Rows and rows of My Trees orchard trees grow up, providing shared beneath them.

Learn More About My Trees Trust   

UNH & Our Planet

Planet health is a core value here in COLSA and the university as a whole. It is evident in ways big and small — from the courses we offer and the research we conduct to the many ways we stand out for being a sustainable campus, including:

  • We’re powered by 100% renewable energy.
  • Our buses run on alternative fuel.
  • All residence halls have EPA Energy Star ratings and Wildcat Stadium and Wildcat Arena are zero-waste facilities.
  • We have a four-star rating from the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) for all dining halls, which annually use more than 3,000 pounds of food — grown and harvested by UNH students — from the COLSA-run farms at UNH.
  • Since 2017, UNH has earned a STARS platinum rating — the highest possible from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) — in recognition of our sustainability achievements.