The University of Pittsburgh has many past and present initiatives to increase the number of native plant species we have on campus. Many of these initiatives are conceived and completed by students and student organizations. The University also has many sustainability practices managed by Pitt Sustainability. The City of Pittsburgh is full of native plant advocates, projects, programs, and services, so be sure to check those out for opportunities to give back to the community. Look through these innovative community initiatives to learn more about native gardening efforts throughout our city. Find inspiration in these projects and start thinking of the next steps we need to take to increase our efforts to build sustainable grounds throughout the campus and the city.
Pitt Sustainability Land Acknowledgment
We recognize that the University of Pittsburgh occupies the ancestral land of the Adena culture, Hopewell culture, and Monongahela peoples, who were later joined by refugees of other tribes (including the Delaware, Shawnee, and Haudenosaunee),driven here from their homelands by colonizers. We honor these traditional Native inhabitants of this place and uplift their historic, unique, and enduring relationship with this land, which is their ancestral territory. We pay our respects to their Elders and their past, present, and future people, community, and culture. While we cannot change the past, we commit to continued gratitude for the gifts of nature, along with ongoing respect, care, and stewardship of the land, each other, and future generations.
