University operations and activities
The University impacts nature and biodiversity in a variety of ways, with the potential for both positive and negative impacts. This plan, and the aforementioned principles, focus on 3 major areas in which the University impacts biodiversity, which can be broadly summarised as our estate operations, the University culture and our impacts beyond our estate through our supply chain and investments.
1. University Estate Operations
How we manage our estate has a huge impact on the biodiversity present throughout our campuses. As such, much of this work falls under the Property and Campus Services (PCS) department, which is responsible for the development and maintenance of the estate.
How we build or make significant changes to our existing estate is managed through our capital projects and estate strategy. Ensuring ecological stewardship is built into major changes to our estate, whether through new developments or major refurbishments, is essential for minimising our impacts brought about through changing use of land under our control. Furthermore, careful consideration and strategic planning can help capitalise on the regulating, material and non-material benefits of nature such as using trees to regulate air quality, reusing biomass harvested on campus and creating accessible natural spaces.
Ensuring a nature rich estate is not only about the provision of biodiverse spaces, but also about how they are maintained and managed. The practices of our Grounds Maintenance Team and managers in key areas such as the farms and Ness Botanic Gardens play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of the estate and beyond, avoiding pollution through the responsible use of resources such as herbicides, pesticides and silage and maintaining our existing natural assets in a sustainable way.
Campus development and maintenance activities are supported by our ISO 14001:2015 accredited Environmental Management System, which manages the environmental procedures across our estate.
2. University Culture
The University is a research-intensive educational institution with significant influence and a responsibility to represent over 5,000 members of staff and over 28,000 students. Developing a culture which values biodiversity through ensuring spaces are accessible, used for research and teaching and enjoyed by students, staff and the local community, will be crucial to the success of this plan.
The University takes an active role in engaging with the Liverpool Guild of Students in exploring volunteering opportunities which have the potential to benefit our local green spaces. We also take an active role in engaging with the local community to educate on the benefits of nature, such as presenting workshops and open days with local schools at Ness Botanic Gardens.
3. Supply Chain and Investments
Where our food and other material comes from has an impact on biodiversity. How our suppliers manage sea and land use change, their exploitation of natural resources and the mitigation of pollution have a significant impact on biodiversity beyond our campus. Catering is a key area where we are already taking action, such as only purchasing fish from sustainable sources certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and only purchasing teas and coffees from suppliers with Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance accreditation. Furthermore, purchasing decisions regarding construction materials, such as timber and cement, grounds keeping supplies and other consumables, take into account impacts on biodiversity through the tendering process. Further embedding ecological stewardship into purchasing decisions and processes will enable us to minimise the negative, and capitalise on the positive impacts, of our supply chain.
Beyond our supply chain, we must also look at the impact of our investments on the natural world. The University operates an ethical investment policy which adheres to the principles from the United Nations Global Compact. Key to this will also be gaining a better understanding of our investment’s impacts on nature.
Hedgehog friendly campus
Recognising the hedgehog as native species vulnerable to extinction, we have been a member of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Scheme since 2019, achieving Gold Accreditation in 2022.
The scheme, coordinated by a group of staff and students’ volunteers, has completed a number of practical and awareness-raising activities designed to provide long term improvement for the threatened species. The project has seen the rescue and rehabilitation of injured hedgehogs found on the estate and been an excellent engagement and educational tool with the local community, including completing hedgehog surveys with schools and nurseries.