The Australian National University is committed to protecting and enhancing our campus environment, particularly the endangered grassy woodlands and the highly modified riparian zone along Sullivans Creek. Our Landscape and Conservation Team has a long history of preserving and enhancing the habitat and biodiversity value of our Acton Campus. Their efforts include retaining habitat trees, expanding native grasslands, implementing multi-layered plantings to enhance habitats, and controlling pest weeds and animals. The team remains dedicated to further increasing the value of the natural environment and biodiversity and conservation initiatives on our campuses.
Biodiversity and conservation
Image: Guy Walpole/ANU
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Our approach and targets
Our Landscape and Conservation Team continues to build landscape resilience and improve conservation targets on campus. The team will achieve this by:
- Engage with First Nations Peoples: Increase engagement and knowledge sharing with First Nation peoples to explore opportunities for implementing traditional land management practices
- Increase tree numbers: Increase and maintain the number of trees on our Acton campus to 10,500 by 2032, ensuring a diverse population while protecting remnant and heritage trees.
- Flora and fauna: Protect and enhance our habitat for native flora and fauna through projects that support habitat and promote biodiversity
- Improve soil health: Enhance soil health by refining in-house compost as a soil-enhancing for wider application across the University by 2024
- Promote drought-tolerant planting: Increase the coverage of drought tolerant plants in the and scale to 90% by 2025, while ensuring the protection and enhancement of biodiversity on our campuses.
- Assess chemical use: Assess chemical use in our landscaping activities and establish a reduction plan.
- Develop research partnerships: Identify partnerships with ANU research groups to support the landscape and conservation strategy, and create student biodiversity monitoring programs
Our progress
Increasing tree numbers
- We currently have over 9,600 trees on our Acton campus, and planting sessions are frequently organised where our community can participate in plantings and contribute to our environmental sustainability goals.
- So far in 2024, 114 trees have been planted and 47 removed for risk management and development, resulting in a net increase. These initiatives not only increase tree population but also engage our community in fostering a healthier, greener campus.
Enhancing native habitat
- The design of the Sullivans Creek biodiversity corridor is in progress. This initiative will create a green corridor that supports biodiversity. We are committed to fostering ecological health on campus through thoughtful planning and development.
Improving soil health
- Onsite composting is an important initiative driven by our Landscape and Conservation Team. All green waste from our Acton campus is collected and processed on site to commercial grade compost. This compost is then used across campus to enhance soil health, reduce water usage and support our Kitchen Garden Program.
- In 2024 to date, we have produced approximately 600 m³ of compost, meeting AS4454 standards for compost and soil conditioners. In 2023 approximately 500 m³ of forest litter mulch was generated.
- In Q3 2024 the Landscape and Conservation Team successfully undertook topdressing application of approximately 50m3 of in house produced compost across approximately 20,000m2 of warm season turf grass to increase soil health, moisture holding capacity and reduce fertiliser use.
- Additionally, a soil health monitoring program is being developed with Dr. Craig Strong from the Fenner School to evaluate our soil improvement strategies.
Promoting drought-tolerant planting
- Our team is focused on increasing drought-tolerant planting throughout campus. Regular maintenance supports the replacement of plantings and the development of new landscapes that can thrive in dry conditions. By prioritizing drought-resistant species, we aim to conserve water while enhancing biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of our campus environment.
- Additionally, we maintain a small propagation area and greenhouse to grow trees, shrubs and grasses to provide habitat for the species that make our campus their home. This initiative not only supports local wildlife but also contributes to the overall ecological health of our campus.
Assessing chemical use
- Our Landscape and Conservation Team continues to assess and reduce their chemical use in landscaping on our campuses. Cultural changes within the team successfully led to a reduction in use to aid our goals.
Developing research partnerships
- Our Landscape and Conservation team, in collaboration with the School of Art and Design (SOA&D) have created a new texture fibre garden near the SOA&D buildings. The garden plays a role in the Plants and Place course teaching students about sustainable practices and produces natural dyes and fibres for student projects, and provides a space for our community to gather.
- Our collaboration with the Fenner School has strengthened research partnerships focused on habitat enhancement strategies. These strategies have been integrated into the ENVS2001/6201 Biodiversity Science course for semester two 2024, led by Dr. Ben Scheele and Melinda Walker. This initiative will engage students in biodiversity monitoring, enriching their learning experience while supporting our conservation efforts on campus.
- Additionally, we are developing a soil health monitoring program with Dr. Craig Strong, aimed at establishing a baseline of soil health and assessing the effectiveness of our landscape and conservation soil improvement strategies.
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