Case Studies

Case studies

We are building up a resource of case studies from our network showcasing different aspects of the journey towards Nature Positive. Together we are much more than the sum of our parts and we invite you to share your activities with us and learn from each other.

 

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Acting for sustainability in human and natural ecosystems in a conflict zone
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University has developed management plans for four protected areas and restored habitats and protected species. This led to the institute being trusted to lead on creation of the new Protected Area Network (27 areas) for Palestine. The institution has also led the effort to formulate the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
Bioblitz at University of Turku, Finland
The Biodiversity Unit hosted a BioBlitz event on May 21st-22nd 2022. A Bioblitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short time, 24 hours. Scientists, students, teachers, families and other community members worked together to get a snapshot of an area’s biodiversity.
Bird friendly buildings at UBC, Canada
Vancouver’s shiny, tall, mirror-like buildings are an attractive and much-photographed sight. So too is the local wildlife, with Vancouver boasting one of the highest densities of wintering birds of any Canadian city. Unfortunately, the combination can turn those beautiful reflective glass windows into bird killers. See how UBC community members are flocking together to bird-proof campus buildings.
Blühender Campus, Freie Universität Berlin
“Blühender Campus” (Blooming Campus) is an interdisciplinary initiative started in order to focus more on biodiversity. It unites projects and actors who have the aim to encourage biological diversity on campus. The focus of the work is the upgrading of the green and lawn areas that were mowed up to nine times a year in 2019. The mowing of all areas has been significantly reduced since 2020 (depending on the weather and use only about five times) and pauses across campus during the early flowering phase in April. In a pilot project, some very different, species-rich flowering areas are currently being created on around eight hectares.
Expressing appreciation for nature through dance forms in Calicut
The Department of Botany at Providence Women’s College, University of Calicut in Kerala have used innovative ways to communicate an appreciation for nature. Nrityaangan uses Indian classical dance to encourage students to appreciate and express the importance of nature and the explore the UN sustainable development goals on their campus in Kerala, India.
Familial Forestry, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
The Government Dungar College in Bikaner, Rajasthan has developed an Institutional forest on six hectares of land on their college campus. This forest has 3000 trees of 100 varieties as well as grasses and herbs native to the Thar desert. It is also rich in avian diversity. Institutional forests are intended to restore previously degraded or abandoned land to a balanced habitat by engaging students and the local community in sustainable forest management practices. There is also a public nursery in the forest that provides quality saplings free of cost to the students and local communities.
Green walk at ESTeSC Coimbra, Portugal
As part of its application to be an EcoCampus, ESTeSC have designed a Green Walk to inspire students to explore and discover the variety of native trees present on campus. Each tree has a QR code with information on the tree’s species, history and importance for biodiversity. In addition the Green Walk promotes outdoor learning experiences and overall health and wellbeing of students.
Green walls at University of Lincoln, UK
The University of Lincoln’s new Medical Sciences Building was completed in March 2021 and aimed to be biodiversity positive as a build. To achieve this, a 120m2 Living Wall was designed into the building, containing over 5000 plants (of 15 varieties) to provide valuable food for pollinators and birds throughout the year. The external landscaping involved the establishment of wildflower meadows to support pollinators and wildlife.
Hedgehog friendly campus (UK)
Hedgehogs are vulnerable to extinction in Britain, due to habitat loss, development, roads and garden hazards. There are now thought to be fewer than one million hedgehogs left. City dwelling hedgehog numbers appear to be recovering after a long period of decline but there is more work to be done. Whether your campus is green or urban, you can help to bring hedgehogs back from the brink.
Pollinator-friendly management of sports clubs
New guidance has been published by the All-Ireland pollinator plan for the pollinator-friendly management of sports clubs and grounds. This guide is aimed at those who have responsibility for managing sports clubs and their surroundings. It explains five main ways to help pollinators. All actions are evidence-based (scientific studies show these actions have a positive impact on pollinators.) Pollinators need food, shelter and safety and many of the actions we can take to help provide this are very simple, cost-effective, and often free.

Get Involved

All parts of a university have a role to play, whether you are a student, researcher, member of staff or faculty. Find out about our Student Ambassadors programme, network with researchers working on Nature Positive themes, and share resources with staff tackling their impacts on nature in our global community of institutions. 

Resources

We are developing tools and guidance for each stage of the Nature Positive Pledge. We will provide links to all reports and documentation here as we develop them. We encourage you to make the Pledge and join the other Founding universities who are starting this journey. We would love to hear how you have approached each aspect of the Pledge so we can share it with our wider network and inspire change. 

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