SORTED Guide to Sustainability in Further Education – Part 5 - Estates and Operations – 5.7 Estates and Operations: biodiversity

Introduction to the topic area

Biodiversity, which is short for biological diversity, encompasses the whole variety of life on earth. It includes all species of plants and animals, and the complex ecosystems of which they are part. It is not restricted to rare or threatened species.

The health of our biodiversity is one measure of the extent to which we are living sustainably. Within urban areas in particular, biodiversity makes a strong contribution to the development of sustainable communities and to establishing and maintaining urban green space and the built environment.

Organisational value of embedding sustainability in this area

• This will help with campus planning and development – generally, the success of planning applications is assisted by incorporating ways of protecting and enhancing biodiversity.
• Legal compliance – knowing what is on your site, and how best to manage that will ensure that you are compliant with legislation.
• Reputation and image – biodiversity projects are often highly visual and demonstrate a sustainable approach to business practice.  Biodiversity is also an important aspect in environmental reporting.
• Financial – managing land for biodiversity often requires reduced intervention – e.g. reduced lawn mowing, planting native species that require less management and watering, etc.
• Sustainability in the curriculum – biodiversity and related initiatives can assist in embedding sustainability within the curriculum.
• Healthy living and well-being – green spaces can help improve physical and psychological health. A biodiverse campus enhances the work and study environment and provides opportunities for exercise and relaxation. This can contribute to staff retention and student recruitment.
• People and partnership – biodiversity projects provide opportunities to form partnerships with your institution and beyond. Wildlife groups, local schools, staff and student groups, local residents, community groups – all helping to generate a strong feeling of belonging, community and commitment.
• Volunteering opportunities – students can gain a broad range of work-related skills such as team work, cooperation and practical project work from volunteering on projects.

Wider benefits of embedding sustainability in this area

• Increasing green areas help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Improved water flow, reducing flooding risks, from green spaces acting as natural sinks for water.
• Planting bee friendly flowers contributes to reducing the decline of bee populations. Bees are essential in pollinating the crops that form our food, and also the wild plants that grow across the country and provide food for much of our wildlife; without bees, the very fabric of our lives will change considerably.

Getting started

• Measure what is already on your site(s). Use the Biodiversity Index, a free tool developed by the University of Northampton.
• Read the EAUC Practical Guide on Biodiversity on Campus – offering advice on how to fully integrate biodiversity into the management of your estate and how it can also be incorporated into the overall learning provision relating to sustainable development. The Guide sets out a three-stage approach to taking action on biodiversity based on creating, enhancing and maintaining green spaces.
• Prepare a plan, in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders – and get senior support for this.
• Ask your EAUC colleagues for support via the EAUC Biodiversity Community of Practice.