FEE EcoCampus Case Studies
WHAT IS DONE IN ECO-CAMPUSes AROUND THE WORLD?
University of A Coruña (UDC), Spain
Forest Restoration
In 2006, the University of A Coruña restored the forest space located between the faculties of Science and Philology, removing most of the eucalyptus trees and reforesting it with native species representative of the Galician forests. Since the beginning of this restoration, the UDC has been applying ecological and sustainable management criteria for this space, which condition both the gardening practices and uses of the space, as well as the carrying out of educational and environmental outreach activities.
A decade after the restoration work began (2016), the figure of Custodia do Territorio was added to this space, with the participation of the Council of A Coruña through the "Specific collaboration agreement between the Council of A Coruña and the University of A Coruña for the execution of the project of environmental stewardship and volunteering in Monte da Fraga", signed for the first time in 2017, and renewed annually until today.
Atlantic Technological University Mayo (ATU Mayo), Ireland
The Swift is a red-listed bird of conservation concern because of a dramatic decline in their numbers, mainly due to the loss of breeding sites. Swifts mostly nest in nooks and crannies in old stone buildings in urban areas and when these buildings or houses are renovated or demolished, this destroys the nest sites. In recognition of the challenges faced by breeding swifts, ATU Mayo Green Campus began a long-term swift conservation project on campus, beginning with the introduction of nest boxes with 12 compartments in 2012.
In 2019, this project was expanded to provide a total of 18 nesting compartments and in 2022, 12 of these nesting compartments had breeding pairs of Swifts. Each nesting compartment contains a camera so that breeding activity can be streamed and recorded. The installation of nesting compartments and the livestream activity is complemented by an ongoing awareness raising programme including annual information sessions and events encouraging other stakeholders to get involved. The recordings from several breeding seasons were analysed by ATU Mayo student, Jaroslaw Majkusiak, for his Masters by Research “The Breeding Biology of the Common Swift in Ireland”. In 2024 the ATU Mayo project had 15 breeding pairs which is an increase of 3 breeding pairs since 2022.
University of A Coruña (UDC), Spain
‘Urban Mobility Challenge at UDC’
UDC was awarded to the most responsible University in the 'Urban Mobility Challenge 2020' . The UDC participated for the second time in this challenge for the promotion of sustainable mobility. During '30 days on a bike', from September 16 to October 16, 2023, the participants accumulated sustainable kilometers traveled: walking, using the bicycle, the electric scooter or public transport, thus discouraging the use of the individual car.
In the general calculation, UDC is in 6th place of the 12 participating Spanish Universities, and reaching 1st place in terms of the number of activities per user (Most Responsible University Award). 163 people from the UDC registered, of which 90 actively participated throughout the month. They covered a total of 9,412 sustainable km, corresponding to 2,222 kgCO2 avoided. Of these, the bicycle was the most used, totaling 6,415 km, followed by 1,409 km traveled by bus and 916 by walking.
‘Bicycle Loan Program’
The bicycle loan is a program carried out by the Sustainability Office (OdS) of the University of A Coruña (UDC), which aims to encourage the use of bicycles as a means of transport among the university community, especially as a means of getting around UDC. In this way, a suitable vehicle for these functions (fully equipped) is provided to the people of the university community who request it. At the same time, training and information programs are carried out that aim to facilitate and encourage the effective use of the bicycles granted.
The park available in the 2023/2024 school year was 67 conventional bicycles, 35 folding bicycles and 18 electric ones. A total of 120 loan bicycles were available for loan use for the academic year.
With the data collected from the requests and the assessment surveys carried out by the people who participated in the program, an analysis was made of the operation of the service, both in relation to the effectiveness in relation to the proposed objectives, and in relation to the degree of satisfaction achieved by the users. Mobility habits, perception of the bicycle as a means of transport, the city of A Coruña and the Campus by bicycle, or the use given to the bicycle and its condition, were some of the issues analysed.
The users reflected their change of perception in the use of the bicycle. To the question "After this year, do you see the bicycle as a means of transport for your journeys", more than half (56%) answered that "more or much more", a good indicator of the usefulness of the loan service to increase the availability of people using bicycles.
École d'Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule, Cambodia
Under the leadership of the Eco-Committee members, students and teachers participated in the identification of the school campus flora and fauna.
Students measured multiple plants and trees to map the large diversity of species on their EcoCampus. In one workshop, students recognized over 30 plant species, more than 40 tree types, and 15 different animal species.
Learning about the biodiversity surrounding us is key to raise awareness and protect our environment better.
Munster Technological University, Ireland
As part of a course on environmental & energy engineering, a group of students developed a Biodiverisity Strategy Report to improve the overall ecological diversity on the MTU Bishopstown Campus. This strategy came in response to the university developing a new building on campus which would result in the removal of several mature trees.
The biodiversity strategy report was submitted to the President of the Cork Institute of Technology in March 2020. The president was so impressed with the students' work and enthusiasm that she committed to planting 1000 trees across the Bishoptown campus and later 2000 trees across all 6 campuses of the MTU University.
To date, the students have helped to organise the planting of 412 trees across 2 campuses. This initiative, giving the students a sense of value and ownership, is a great illustration of how students can be actors of change in their school.
Lisbon Institute of Engineering (ISEL), Portugal
Interesting research studies are lead in the Lisbon Institute of Engineering. One of the students is conducting a master thesis on composting on the ISEL Campus. For the compost, he uses residues produced in the campus canteens and adds dry material collected in the campus outdoor gardens. When his lab analysis will be finished, the compost will be used later in the ISEL campus gardens.
Another student analyses the indoor air quality of a specific classroom of the university that was turned in a green classroom full of plants and monitored with a set of sensors. The research study intends to analyse air quality, comparing similar rooms with and without plants. The research also aims to address students well-being and stress in university.
