An EAUC Practical Guide

HEFCE - Leadership Foundation Conference, 2007

Michelle Dixon, Project Manager and Environmental Advisor

University of Hertfordshire

Presentation outline

Why a biodiversity guide for Further and Higher Education?

Project team and support

Aim and outline of the guide

Dissemination, publicity and success

Next steps

Why a biodiversity guide for Further and Higher Education?

• National and international action to halt the decline of biodiversityRio Earth Summit, 1992Biodiversity, the UK Plan, 1992A biodiversity strategy for England, 2002NERC Bill, 2006

• FHE campuses in the UK are collectively the size of the Isle of Wight

• HEFCE’s Sustainable development in higher education strategy

Why a biodiversity guide for Further and Higher Education?Benefits to the institution, staff and students

• Reputation and Green Image• Environmental responsibility of the next generation• Legislative compliance• People and Partnership• Education and curriculum greening• Healthy living and well being• Volunteering• Planning and new developments• Saving money

But Biodiversity is a forgotten FHE environmental management issue. No sector specific guidance existed before the EAUC Guide.

Project team and support

Who made the guide possible?

- Project sponsors: HEFCE and Scottish Biodiversity Action Fund- Project manager- Core project team: 4 members- EAUC Network- Case study contributors- Designer and printer- Project endorsers

Aims of the biodiversity guide

• Getting started in practical projects

• ‘How to’ information

• Simple tips

• Best practice examples

• Basic business case

• Habitat management

• Legislation

• Signposts

Structure and section outline

Part 1: The Institutional ContextDrivers for Action Benefiting from Biodiversity Making Biodiversity Happen Communicating Biodiversity

Part 2: Practical ManagementGeneral tips on enhancing, maintaining and creating common habitats foundon campus.

Part 3: Further informationThe Legal PositionUseful Organisations

Feedback: info@eauc.org.uk

Dissemination, Publicity and Success 3000 copies printed and distributed to all HEFCE funded institutions to the Vice Chancellor (3 copies), all SFC funded institutions to the Vice Chancellor/Principal (3 copies), All EAUC members (if not included in the above) (3 copies), HEFCELSC, Scottish Executive, English Nature, RSPB, Pond Conservation, Plus one copy to all organisations listed in the Guide

Available free on the EAUC Website www.eauc.org.uk/biodiversity. EAUC biodiversity jiscmail and subject interest group.

Launched, promoted and distributed at the EAUC Annual Conference (10-12 April 2006), with over 150 delegates. Specific breakout workshop. Scottish Launch at the University of Glasgow on 22 May 2006 (UN International Day of Biodiversity). Further biodiversity event at UH in Aug 2006.

Discussions are taking place with HEEPI regarding a new Biodiversity category in their Green Gown Awards.

Dissemination, Publicity and Success

Widespread awareness and marketingEAUC Strategic Partners; HEEAF network, DEFRA, Association of University Administrators, National Environment Research Council, Universities UK etc.EAUC website News section, EARTH & E-News (EAUC newsletters)Empower 06 the FE procurement Conference (25/26 April 06), HEEPI, AUDE, SCOP, CVCP, DEFRA etc. AUDE and SAUDE newsletters

Press releases to academic, environment and mainstream press such as Environment Guardian, Field Studies Council, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage plus NI and Welsh equivalents. Natural History Museum, WWF, RSPB etc.Partner websites such as HE ESD network, UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), National Biodiversity Network, Learning that Lasts, Green Places

Dissemination, Publicity and Success

EAUC Biodiversity Guide goes international!

The Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity reviewed and commended the biodiversity guide in May 2006. Programme Officer visit to UH in Aug 2006.

Biodiversity on Campus project to be used as a flagship project of the Convention and promoted throughout the world.

The Guide will now be distributed throughout Universities in Canada and a network of developing countries so that they can produce regional versions.

Next steps in biodiversity

The work goes on! Practical Projects to Solid Strategies

• Who do we need to influence/involve?• How do we sell biodiversity to senior managers?• What areas do we need to focus on?• What other environmental management issues do we need to link biodiversity with?• Ideas for new projects. • Volunteers.