Background
Since 1997, all new plants introduced to campus properties have been listed as native species that require less maintenance, are better suited to our climate, support local wildlife including pollinators, and help to reduce invasive plants. The Campus Environmental Sustainability Strategy includes goals of using sustainable landscaping maintenance standards and developing a remediation and preservation plan for targeted areas by 2025. The benefits are multiple: reduced need for pest control measures, habitat creation, increased biodiversity, improved air and water quality, reduced urban heat island effects, and more1 . Yet there are social barriers to sustainable landscaping practices because our society has expectations of well-manicured lawn and landscaping. The University would like to better understand these barriers and develop communications strategies based on best practices at other institutions.
Scope of Work
- Conduct a literature review of social barriers to natural landscaping in public spaces.
- Conduct a campus survey to understand local attitudes and awareness of natural landscaping.
- Consult with Grounds Services to understand their barriers to the greater adoption of natural landscaping.
- Study the natural gardens around the ENV buildings which have signs and the story map of gardens created by Ecology Lab.
- Research best practices from other major institutions to address attitudinal barriers to natural landscaping.
- Recommend a communication strategy to address social expectations for naturalization in open spaces on campus, including key messages and images for different media types.
Resources
The Sustainability Office can share its proposed Landscaping Standards documents and campus ecological biodiversity maps. The Sustainability Office is also happy to facilitate a conversation with Grounds Services and the Ecology Lab and promote the campus survey.
Stakeholders
- Sustainability Office
- Plant Operations
- Ecology Lab
Proposed Deliverables
The details of the deliverables are flexible but must meet the requirements set out by the course instructor. Some proposed deliverables include:
- A work plan early in the term outlining key milestones and responsibilities.
- Updates on progress at least once during the term.
- A final report outlining the outcomes of the study, including survey results and analysis, and recommendations for communications strategies.
- A final meeting to review the outcomes of the report and answer questions.