Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land
The University undertakes a range of research and educational programmes on 'Life on Land' whilst implementing policies and monitoring to ensure negative impacts are minimised, or eliminated.
Educational Programmes and Events to Promote Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of Land
Queen's researchers have joined up with an international team of experts, Belfast City Council and a local community group to develop nature based solutions to tackle global challenges. An underused green space in the city's Lower Botanic Gardens was regenerated with a local community group to create a climate-resilient garden. This garden is used by the local community group, and Queen's staff, to engage with individuals, school kids and students to engage them on nature conservation and food production.
The university are 'Supporters' of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan and run a number of biodiversity events to ensure the local community play a role in conserving, and enhancing, habitats found within our campus. This includes tree planting, bulb planting, pollinator planting and biodiversity monitoring.
Maintain and Extend Existing Ecosystems and Their Biodiversity
Academics within Queen's University have directed their efforts in researching, monitoring and addressing, the continual algae blooms taking place in Lough Neagh. This includes the development of early-warning systems, policy development, behaviour change and biocontrol agents.
Educational Programme For Sustainable Management of Land For Agriculture
The Institute for Global Food Security has been engaging with our agricultural community to support and promote conservation, sustainable utilisation and management of the land. Staff involved in the EIT Food Grow Project have hosted a range of events focused at promoting 'nature friendly farming' practices, including enhancing soil health.
Educational Programme For Sustainable Management of Land For Tourism
Queen’s researchers are excited to be a partner in “Future Island-Island' Project which aims to create a 'green economy' for Rathlin via community outreach on sustainable tourism and waste management.
Launched in 2023, the project will use co-design, applied design, knowledge exchange and worldbuilding using 3D immersive technology, to shape new design-led green economies on six challenge-based objectives. A key outcome will be protecting Northern Ireland’s only offshore inhabited island, Rathlin, from any negative impacts of tourism by sustainably managing island resources.
Policy for Sustainable Utilisation of Land
The university's Biodiversity Policy sets out how the University will conserve, monitor and enhance our campus, whilst the Sustainable Food Policy ensures food served on-campus is sustainably farmed.
Biodiversity has been embedded into our planning and development process via the Net Zero Design Guide.
Our Water Standard Policy provides the university with water quality standards and guidelines to ensure we are preventing damage to our local wildlife.
The University's Waste Policy sets out how we minimise, and manage, hazardous waste.