University joins biodiversity global network

The University of Derby has demonstrated its commitment to reversing the biodiversity decline by joining a new global network.

It has become part of Nature Positive Universities Alliance, a worldwide network of 111 universities that have all pledged to halt, prevent and reverse nature loss through addressing their own impacts and restoring ecosystems harmed by their activities.

As part of its pledge, the university has already begun assessing its environmental impact in order to make tailored actions to improve its ecological footprint.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “As a civic university we have a key role to play in making a positive impact on the local, national and global environment, and a responsibility to do all we can to help tackle the crisis that is facing our planet.

“By making this pledge we are reinforcing our commitment to assessing and addressing the impact our university has on the environment and working towards mitigating this through a number of existing and new initiatives.

“We are delighted to be one of the founding universities from across the globe pledging to be nature positive.”

Examples of nature-positive projects already underway at the university include DUST – Derby’s Urban Sustainable Transition.

The project aims to reimagine Derby for a sustainable future, creating an augmented reality representation of the city, capitalising on its blueways and greenways.

The university has also recently established a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, combining the skills and know-how needed to support the trust’s ambitions to be at the forefront of ecosystem services provision.