Building up a green and verdant campus, and increasing knowledge and teaching of the natural world are key pillars of GMIT’s newly published biodiversity plan.
The recently released “GMIT’s Vision for Biodiversity” has ambitious plans to develop wildflower meadows on its multiple campuses, and to make “living classrooms” from their existing green areas.
On top of improving biodiversity on campus lands, GMIT also states that they intend to embed biodiversity in curriculum design, and encourage proactive participation in community-led biodiversity initiatives.
Approved by GMIT’s Executive Board on January 18, it will be implemented through the newly established GMIT Centre for Sustainability, led by Dr Mark Kelly.
Dr Katie O’Dwyer, who led the interdisciplinary group which prepared the plan, said “It’s three years since the Irish Government acknowledged the severity of the challenges by declaring a ‘biodiversity emergency’ and it’s encouraging to see GMIT stepping up to play our part.”
“Our efforts will also contribute to ongoing projects within the Galway National Park City initiative. Ní neart go cur le chéile.”
The plan aligns with the objectives of the Government’s National Biodiversity Plan 2017 – 2021, through four main objectives.
These include being proactive in biodiversity conservation, considering biodiversity in the planning and management of campus grounds and buildings, increasing knowledge of biodiversity among students and staff, embedding biodiversity related topics in curricula design, and engaging with communities and knowledge sharing across the region.
