Biodiversity
Imagine a campus where you cycle past twittering birds, green roofs collect rainwater and you have your lunch among blooming plants. A place where cows graze on herb-rich grasslands, and where plants and animals can move freely between Utrecht Science Park and surrounding wildlife areas such as Amelisweerd and Landgoed Oostbroek.
At Utrecht University, we work towards that vision every day. We are striving to create a university where biodiversity is visible on campus and is an integral part of all our decisions. After all, our impact does not stop at the campus. Through what we build, use and purchase, we influence biodiversity elsewhere in the world. We call this impact our biodiversity footprint.
Our ambition: a lively and future proof university, where we contribute to healthy ecosystems and more biodiversity with sustainable choices, on our own campus and worldwide.
Our approach
20 icon species
With our devotion to local biodiversity, we improve the habitat of twenty icon species, so they can settle permanently in Utrecht Science Park no later than 2035. These species were originally found here. If they feel at home here again, the same goes for hundreds of other species and we will know the ecosystem on our campus is healthy.
Good examples
Sustainable laboratories Laboratories with lower energy consumption, less waste and less plastic.
Zero-waste programme No more waste, just raw materials.
Solar Farm Bunnik A private solar park in Bunnik.
Ecological corridors Green corridors for plants and animals.
Ecological mowing policy Less mowing = more insects
Biodiversity Challenge UU staff are monitoring plant and animal species.
Biodiversity Council
The Biodiversity Council supports policy development based on scientific evidence and provides the Executive Board with both solicited and unsolicited advice on how the university can enhance biodiversity. The Council consists of Marie-Jeanne Schiffelers (Chair), Merel Soons, Marijke van Kuijk and Hens Runhaar.
Want to find out more?
Listen to the episode ‘Biodiversity at Utrecht Science Park’ from the podcast ‘Een Academisch Kwartiertje met...’, featuring Marie-Jeanne Schiffelers, associate professor and chair of the Biodiversity Council, and farmer Jorn Vernooij.