Building on the excellent work achieved by the previous team the newly established biodiversity working group will look to provide an updated assessment of the estate biodiversity to build on baseline data previously collated and establish new goals for the next 5 years.
The current biodiversity objectives are as stated below. They seek to establish a revised biodiversity action plan to accompany the 2023 baseline data and new objectives by September 2023.
Objectives (2023 – 2025)
- Identify the types of rich natural life at each of the University’s campuses.
- Establish a baseline of biodiversity (including animal and plant life) across the university.
- Identify key priorities set by local government and expert organisations like the JNCC, with the aim to target habitats which are most threatened and requiring conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP).
- Identify the areas of intervention which will achieve the most beneficial impact on natural life on campus.
- Protect existing animal and plant life on our campus, with the aim to examine threats to the diversity of the existing nature.
- Identify invasive species which are or may be a threat to a diverse natural landscape.
- Enhance animal and plant life of recognised ecological value, fully exploring the natural resources currently on campus to seek ways to nurture what currently exists, such as the enhancement of existing campus ponds and lakes to support a wider range of wildlife.
- Create new habitats within on our campus to enhance the current wildlife, such as transforming lawn to wildlife meadow areas and maintaining a fertilizer free approach to lawns.
- Engage local biodiversity partners such as Richmond Park and the London Wetland Centre to share best practice and to inform the development of the University of Roehampton biodiversity action plan.
- Engage the local wider community to create awareness of biodiversity issues and provide opportunities to learn about the topic through our campus.
- Engage students with the aim to create awareness of biodiversity on campus, provide teaching in the natural makeup of the campus and develop biodiversity champions who will pass on this knowledge to internal and external audiences. Develop hands-on project work for students to actively participate in the creation and management of biodiverse and sustainable habitats.
- Disseminate all biodiversity objectives, plans and activities to internal and external audiences with the aim to highlight progress and create awareness of biodiversity issues.
All plans will be developed with the consideration of the historic nature of some areas of campus namely Grove House.