In听2022, 涩里番 joined hundreds of higher education institutions around the world to鈥�, a commitment to听start听a nature-positive journey听via its teaching, research,听operations,听and听supply chain.听As听part of this听pledge,听涩里番听will听establish听a biodiversity baseline, decide听on targets,听take听action,听and report annually听on progress.听
In 2023, 涩里番 launched its inaugural鈥�Biodiversity Plan 2030, which marked a milestone in the University鈥檚 commitment to biodiversity.听The听Office of Sustainability led the creation of听the听Biodiversity Plan in collaboration with faculty, staff, and students from 15 academic and administrative units.听Together, the stakeholders elaborated the vision that 涩里番 will听monitor, protect, and enhance biodiversity via its research, teaching, and operations, while raising awareness and engaging community members both on and beyond our campuses.听
Biodiversity plays many functions, including the provision of听numerous听contributions to people鈥攐r ecosystem services鈥攕uch as food, recreation, flood control, air purification, climate regulation, and scientific and artistic inspiration. Yet, global biodiversity is declining, with more than 2,000 species at risk of extinction in Canada.鈥疶he Biodiversity Plan is the first concerted effort to align biodiversity actions among students, staff, and faculty across the University to protect biodiversity and its contributions to people at 涩里番.听听
听Lisez le Plan de biodiversit茅
Key Progress
涩里番听has taken concrete steps to enhance and protect biodiversity across its campuses and lands.听
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The鈥锓� Biodiversity Atlas鈥痠s a digital repository of biodiversity and environmental datasets and information about the University鈥檚 properties. The Atlas鈥檚听interactive map features species observation records, spaces听that support biodiversity,听and听tree canopy and urban heat distribution听data.听
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涩里番 has听begun听to听establish听biodiversity zones on campus with a goal to听manage 30% of its greenspaces听to foster biodiversity听by 2030.听
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A yearly and Bioblitz听have been听hosted on our campuses听since 2023听to听engage听students, faculty, and staff in efforts to protect and improve biodiversity听at 涩里番.
Get Involved
Students, staff, and faculty members can听help inventory听biodiversity听at听涩里番听by using鈥�, a crowdsourced species identification system. By documenting the plants, insects, birds, mammals, and other wildlife seen on campus, 涩里番ians contribute valuable observational data that can inform biodiversity efforts听while听learning听more about the natural world that surrounds them.听
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- Download a guide to making great iNaturalist observations听
- Download a ruler to make accurate observations听
- Celebrate nature on campus at the听annual听.
- Discover new species on campus听during the annual听Bioblitz.听
- Contribute to the Biodiversity Photo Contest.听
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies a university as Nature Positive?
A Nature Positive University is committed to halting its negative impact听on nature听and enhancing its positive听impact听through听restoration.听While the criteria for a university to be considered听nature听positive听can听differ depending on capacity and ambition,听the core goal听is听to contribute meaningfully to nature conservation and restoration. To听learn听more,听visit听听
Where can I track 涩里番鈥檚 progress towards its objectives?
You听can听track 涩里番鈥檚 progress towards its听biodiversity听objectives听via听the听Biodiversity Atlas听and听by consulting 涩里番鈥檚听Climate &听Sustainability Annual Report.听
