Tim Smit educate people about environmental matters and encourages a greater understanding and empathy with these matters. Smit raised the needed funds and was the driving force, pulling the team of people together to build what has been described as 'the eighth wonder of the world' ; the site design was by Nicholas Grimshaw. The Eden Project is said to have contributed over £1 billion into the Cornish economy. Smit's book about the creation of the Eden Project, 'Eden', was first published in 2001 and updated on the 10th anniversary of the opening in March 2011. It is the best-selling environment book
The Gardens at SIUE president Dr. Peter Raven created the Metro-east Outreach Advisory Committee, chaired by SIUE alumnus Ralph Korte and directed with discovering ways to amplify the Missouri Botanical Gardens' image in the Metro East region. This committee created the concept of "Signature Gardens", and the Donal Myer Arboretum was chosen as one of three Signature Gardens in the Metro East. In 2004, Terra Design Studios of Pittsburgh was hired to assist a planning team, consisting of SIUE Foundation staff; SIUE faculty, staff, and administration; and Metro East community members in developing a master plan for the arboretum. This process established a plan