Sustainable Stories
Protecting and enhancing biodiversity
We need to take urgent action to protect nature and the ecosystems that people and communities rely on.
Urgent call to protect nature
Nature is in crisis due to human activity. Plant and animal species are threatened with extinction, with the primary driver of biodiversity loss being our global food system.
Urgent measures must be taken to safeguard both nature and the vital ecosystems upon which people and communities depend.
For further information, visit the links below.
- Facts about the nature crisis (UN Environment programme website)
- Landmark report shows UK’s terrestrial wildlife is continuing to decline (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)
- One Planet, Two Crises: Tackling Climate Change and Biodiversity in the Fight for Our Future (Scientific American website)
- Rewilding and the biodiversity crisis (Rewilding Britain website)
What York St John is doing
We have developed a comprehensive biodiversity plan aimed at enhancing the environment for wildlife on our campuses. This includes initiatives such as planting 1000 trees, establishing a wildlife pond, and implementing bug hotels and log pile habitats.
For further information click the button below.
How to get involved
Join our Grounds Team on our main York campus for Wild Wednesdays gardening activities. This is a great way to meet fellow garden goers and to learn about gardening.
For more information, please email sustainability@yorksj.ac.uk or meet the team on Wednesdays at 1pm outside the Students' Union.
St Nicks, a charity based in York, have a 24-acre nature reserve open for exploration every day of the year. Supported by a dedicated volunteer team, they ensure the reserve is well-maintained and managed, benefiting both people and wildlife. Recently, they have expanded their efforts to manage green corridors throughout York.
St Nicks also coordinate conservation tasks on university land at the Haxby Road Sports Park.
Nature Positive Universities are a growing network of people from over 500 higher education institutions across the world, working together to promote nature on our campuses, in our supply chains and within our cities and communities. They were founded by UNEP and University of Oxford in partnership with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
York St John University's main teaching campus in York is a Hedgehog Friendly Campus.
Please email sustainability@yorksj.ac.uk if you would like to get involved with this initiative.
Volunteer with local groups in York like Treemendous, Edible York and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
If you are based in London, you can volunteer with local groups like The Conservation Volunteers or London Wildlife Trust.
