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Setting aside our campus for nature: Have your say!
Posted on behalf of: Student Communications
Last updated: Monday, 28 November 2022
Sussex has committed to setting aside more of its campus land for nature. Take part in the consultation to have your say over which areas of land are set aside to support biodiversity.
Do you love that the Sussex campus is set in the UNESCO Biosphere within the South Downs? Is this one of your favourite things about studying here? Aside from being a beautiful place to study, the Downs are home to a diverse range of habitats, with the recognisable chalk downland surrounding the University providing a home to many different species of pollinators, birds, rare flowers, and small mammals. This delicate ecosystem is part of the delicate balance of biodiversity that supports all human life.
However, we are currently facing an unprecedented level of biodiversity loss worldwide, with the National Academy of Sciences asserting that we are facing the sixth mass extinction event. This is why the University is examining the relationship between its campus and the area of natural beauty that surrounds us that is essential for all of our survival.
In April 2022, an independent biodiversity consultancy found that 38% of the Sussex campus is set aside for nature. This means land that has been passively rewilded or is under a low intervention management regime, i.e. land that we mostly leave alone to develop naturally instead of planting, weeding and frequently mowing.
However, whilst 38% is an excellent start on our journey towards having the most biodiverse campus in the UK, the university has committed to raising this figure to either 40%, 45%, or 50%.
We want this decision and the following changes to be community-led, so it is really important to us that as many people participate in this discussion as possible. You can take part in the consultation from now until 28 December.
So, take part in the consultation now, spread the word to other students, and help protect nature on campus!
If you want to read more about our biodiversity projects and to get involved, head to our sustainability webpages, follow us on Instagram @sustainablesussexuni, and sign up to our mailing list.