The current project builds on the work of the pioneering University of Roehampton 2016-2020 Biodiversity Action Plan. This was one of the first examples of a clear and measurable intention to protect and improve our campus habitats and wildlife. The key aims of this action plan were to:
- Encourage the promotion of staff and student awareness of the importance of biodiversity.
- Seek to support relevant projects and programmes that will conserve and, where possible, enhance biodiversity.
- Engage as appropriate with the local community, businesses and organisations on biodiversity enhancing projects.
- Encourage groups and individuals to consider the impacts on biodiversity in relation to purchasing, investments and developments.
- Ensure that biodiversity is not reduced following on campus developments, and where that is not possible make its best endeavours to ensure compensating additional biodiversity elsewhere.
- Comply with relevant biodiversity legislation.
The action plan activities and outputs were managed and monitored by the former Environment and Sustainability Officer and the former Environmental Steering Group. Some of this work was put on hold during the recent pandemic, however it is now restarting under the new initiatives and governance structure outlined here.