Case Studies

In July 2026, Abigail Kos, Masters Student from The Open University, UK, hosted a 6-hour event with a senior lecturer of Ecosystem science. Event attendees gained experience in specific fieldwork activities, such as measuring tree height and diameter, alongside assessing tree species and health. Specialist fieldwork equipment was also used to assess ecosystem health. These included a soil moisture probe, a water quality sensor, a chlorophyll content measurer and a PhotostnQ (used to measure various leaf health parameters). The data collected will provide a clearer picture for the established ecosystem restoration project and the aim is to make this an annual event. Following the event, Abigail conducted a feedback survey, with 83% of those who responded to the survey saying that the event exceeded expectations and 100% saying they would attend again and that a multi-day event would be of interest to them. Despite the pressure - with almost half of attendees travelling over 140 miles to be at the event - the experience of planning and executing this event was an invaluable opportunity for Abigail.

EAN University demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through a range of campus-wide initiatives that integrate biodiversity conservation, climate action, circular economy principles, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental education. The university has several projects which promote renewable energy, responsible resource management, urban agriculture, green buildings, and community engagement, embedding sustainability into both campus operations and student learning. A flagship initiative is the Canopy Urbano, a rooftop living laboratory located on the El Nogal campus. Designed as an urban oasis inspired by the forest canopy, it combines biodiversity conservation with practical sustainability solutions. The space includes over 50 plant species, an urban vegetable garden, an apiary with 120,000 European honeybees, and solar panels that generate approximately 628,000 kWh of renewable energy while avoiding 27,831 kg of CO₂ emissions. Through research, education, and hands-on participation, the Canopy Urbano demonstrates how nature-based solutions can transform urban university campuses into more resilient, biodiverse environments.

Since 2015, the Laudato Si’ Symposium has served as Pontificia Universidad Javeriana’s flagship programme for advancing integral ecology and sustainability, inspired by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’. The Symposium provides a framework that integrates sustainability across the University’s teaching, research, campus operations, and community engagement. Its impact spans three levels: micro, by embedding integral ecology into the University’s vision, strategic planning, policies, and institutional programmes; middle, by fostering sustainability across academic activities, campus management, wellbeing initiatives, and the wider university community; and macro, by extending its influence to local communities and society through outreach and partnerships. Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the programme promotes education for sustainable development, sustainable lifestyles, human rights, peacebuilding, social inclusion, support for vulnerable populations, and environmental stewardship. Looking ahead, Javeriana aims to expand the initiative across Latin America and internationally through the Global Compact on Education while continuing to strengthen it as a core institutional strategy.

As a Nature Positive Universities partner, the University of Alcalá integrates environmental sustainability into all aspects of university life, embedding environmental considerations in campus management, building operations, and the planning of its Alcalá, Science and Technology, and Guadalajara campuses. Since 2003, the Ecocampus Alcalá office has coordinated the University's Environmental Quality Programme, leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of environmental management initiatives in line with national and international sustainability commitments. A core objective of Ecocampus is to encourage the active participation of students, academic staff, and professional services staff in developing practical solutions to improve the University's environmental performance. Complementing this work, the Real Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Alcalá serves as a living space for biodiversity conservation, research, teaching, and environmental outreach, helping connect the university community and wider public with nature through education and scientific engagement.

Macquarie University researchers, led by 2022 Schmidt Science Fellow Anthony Waddle, have used heat to develop a simple and effective way to help endangered frogs avoid the catastrophic impact of a pandemic sweeping multiple species. In collaboration with the University of Melbourne, researchers targeted the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which has already driven at least six species of amphibians to extinction in Australia, and threatens dozens more worldwide. The research team found providing artificial 'hot spot' shelters allows frogs to quickly "bake off" infections. The team built small shelters from readily available materials, such as bricks and PVC greenhouses, so frogs could regulate their body temperature and live in conditions that suppress the growth of the fungal pathogen. The study also showed frogs who survive an infection can develop a form of acquired immunity, making them more resistant to future infections.

Birmingham River Champions is a University of Birmingham-led citizen science initiative that empowers local communities to monitor the health of urban rivers across the West Midlands. Volunteers are trained to collect ecological and water quality data, helping researchers assess river health while fostering environmental stewardship and public engagement with local waterways. Since launching in 2023, the project has engaged more than 200 volunteers from 23 community groups, generated hundreds of environmental records, and informed wider river restoration and conservation efforts, including new regional initiatives and partnerships beyond Birmingham.

Universidade de Aveiro pledged to mitigate the environmental impact of printing a thousand copies of its "Linhas" magazine - special sustainability, by planting a thousand trees. Students, teachers, researchers, technical, administrative and management staff and alumni were invited to get involved in planting more than 700 native trees and shrubs, which will help reforest burnt areas and benefit the fauna and flora of the area, while mitigating the environmental impact of printing Linhas magazine. In addition to contributing to biodiversity, the new forest will also play an important role in protecting the soil from erosion, retaining water, capturing carbon dioxide and improving the quality of the air, water and soil, as well as acting as a natural sound barrier due to the proximity of the freeway. This action is an example of UAveiro's commitment to environmental sustainability, with a concrete gesture of ecological compensation and territorial regeneration.

UAveiro published a flora guide for its Santiago and Crasto campus. Designed to support botany teaching and learning, the publication highlights the campus's floral diversity and green spaces. Combining strong visuals with walking trails and an accessible glossary of botanical terms, the guide seeks to spark curiosity and interest in flora among the academic community and general public. More than just a botanical inventory, the guide encourages readers to view the campus as a living ecosystem where nature, science, and learning coexist daily. Despite being surrounded by buildings, lakes and communal spaces, the campus is home to a significant diversity of plant species that contribute to the university's environmental and landscape quality. The guide also emphasises the vital role plants play in regulating the microclimate, protecting the soil, attracting wildlife, and fostering healthier, more inspiring environments. It also reinforces the institutional commitment to environmental sustainability promoting awareness of nature conservation.

The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University promotes biodiversity conservation through research, education, conservation initiatives, and community engagement. As part of its environmental education programs for children and youth, PIBS collaborated with the Faculty of Education at Bethlehem University to organize two interactive learning days for approximately 350 school students from eight schools across the Bethlehem area. More than 120 education students helped lead 20 interactive stations featuring hands-on learning, games, creativity, and environmental activities while gaining practical experience in integrating sustainability into future classrooms. To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May), one station featured the PIBS Mobile Educational Unit, where children explored Palestine’s biodiversity and learned about local fauna and flora through specimens and educational activities, strengthening their connection with nature and awareness of biodiversity conservation.

The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali is promoting the “Toward a Zero-Waste Campus” initiative, a program that positions responsible waste management as a learning opportunity to promote sustainability and a culture of care. The strategy adopts a collaborative approach that integrates academic, administrative, and student engagement functions. Through the Office of the Vice Rector for Academy, in the courses Theology I and Care for Our Common Home, principles of integral ecology are incorporated; the Office of the Vice Rector for Administration, through Environmental Management, leads waste management processes; and the Office of the Vice Rector for University Life, through the Javeriano Volunteer Program of the St. Francis Xavier Pastoral Center, actively mobilizes the student community in socio-environmental actions. By integrating education, operations, and participation, the institution reaffirms its commitment to transformative education, consolidating the campus as a living laboratory of sustainability and promoting a community in harmony with nature.