Goal 15: Policies, processes and practices

The following page outlines specific policies, process and practices in support of Sustainable Development Goal 15 Life on land

Sustainable use, conservation and restoration of land 

Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy, Our Sustainable Future (2023 – 2028), outlines how we ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of our terrestrial ecosystems. This is further detailed in our Valuing Nature Action Plan (reviewed 2023), which focuses on three main commitments: 

  1. Integrate biodiversity into the Estates strategy, ensuring nature and green spaces are central to planning, with a minimum 20% biodiversity net gain on major construction and refurbishment projects. 
  2. Improve green space quality by 30% (based on Defra’s biodiversity metric) by 2028, using 2022 as the baseline.
  3. Expand green space by 10% by 2028, from 2018 levels. 

In December 2022, we also became a founding member of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, led by the University of Oxford and UNEP, to address nature loss and restore ecosystems impacted by university activities.

The pledge includes four key commitments: conducting biodiversity baseline assessments; setting measurable, time-bound targets; taking bold action to reduce biodiversity impacts and protect and restore species and ecosystems (while influencing others to do the same); and providing transparent annual reporting. 

We are also a partner The City of Manchester’s 2022-2030 Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to enhance and protect the city’s natural environment by promoting biodiversity, restoring green spaces, and increasing community engagement in sustainable practices to create a healthier, more resilient urban ecosystem.

Education and outreach initiatives

We offer a variety of free educational programs on ecosystems for local and national communities, focusing on wild flora and fauna. Our academics have collaborated with a conservation NGO to develop an educational video game that involves the acoustic analysis of bird and bat species in mangrove ecosystems. This initiative aims to enhance understanding of the health of local mangrove areas in the Philippines while raising awareness of mangrove deforestation and its impacts on the ecosystem, ultimately inspiring players to take real-world action. We have developed programs centered around critically endangered species in Costa Rica through our renowned Learning with Lucy initiative, which draws on the work of our University Museum’s Vivarium. The accompanying booklet serves as an educational tool, encouraging schoolchildren to explore rainforest ecosystems, their flora and fauna, and the importance of conservation.  

We offer a variety of free educational programs and outreach initiatives for local and national communities focused on the sustainable management of agricultural land. Our researchers are working on a project aimed at raising public and policy awareness about the vital importance of soil biodiversity in agricultural land and its sustainable management on a global scale. This research highlights the significance of healthy soils in sustainable land management, their role in responding to climate change, and their value as natural capital. The team are also seeking to provide accessible and practical knowledge and tools for local communities to use to repair soils.

The AquaPlan app, launched in August 2023, allows users to interactively define a farming system and view and evaluate graphs of crop yields and water requirements tailored to their specific location. Farmers, businesses, and governments can assess the impacts of future climate change scenarios on sustainable management of land for agriculture. These initiatives play a critical role in educating local and national communities about sustainable management, and are essential for supporting farmers and the broader agriculture sector. 

We offer a variety of educational programmes and outreach for local and national communities on sustainable management of land tourism. Firstly, we own 35 acres of land that are used for tourism at our Jodrell Bank site, with 120,000 visitors each year. Visitors can engage with our educational outreach displays throughout our outdoor Arboretum, which demonstrate our approach to maintaining the land responsibly. 

In partnership with UNESCO, we’ve developed Roundview, a participatory educational outreach game. This initiative helps visitors to UNESCO sites understand the environmental challenges and opportunities involved in managing tourist destinations sustainably. We’ve worked with the National Trust on an educational outreach initiative with the public at their Quarry Bank Mill tourist site, which has developed an educational toolkit for how cultural tourist sites are sustainably managed as major visitor attraction. 

We have also worked with the band Massive Attack to create an open educational resource for the music industry and the public, highlighting how tourism from music concerts impacts urban land management, such as transport infrastructure. 

Collaboration for shared land ecosystems

Our university is committed to collaborating with the local Manchester community to maintain and enhance shared land ecosystems, creating a positive impact for all.  

We are official partners of Manchester’s 2022-2030 Biodiversity Strategy which focuses on enhancing the City of Manchester’s rivers, canals, wetlands, and ponds. We collaborate on improving water quality and expanding green corridors, we support the restoration of critical habitats while working with the community to improve connectivity between green spaces.

We collaborate with local groups like Ardwick Climate Action Group (ACA) to support shared land ecosystems. Our researchers contributed insights into local environmental challenges, aiding in the creation of the “Green Route,” a safe, biodiverse path for residents. This route features QR-coded signs with information on local ecology and plant species supporting Manchester’s biodiversity. Through this partnership, we engage the community in enhancing biodiversity and regenerating green spaces. 

A another key initiative, Incredible Edible Manchester, empowers residents to grow their own sustainable fruit and vegetables. This collaboration not only improves access to fresh produce but also enhances local biodiversity, transforming shared spaces into thriving green areas.

Additionally, our student group, the Tree Musketeers, partners with local environmental organizations to support conservation efforts throughout Manchester. Students engage with community members in activities such as tree planting, scrub clearance, and building bird and bat boxes. These projects not only improve local ecosystems but also foster a shared sense of responsibility for protecting our environment.

In December 2022, we became a founding member of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, allowing us to collaborate with national and local HE stakeholders to address nature loss and restore impacted ecosystems. Our pledge includes conducting biodiversity assessments and setting measurable targets for habitat improvement.  

Promoting conservation and sustainable utilisation of land 

We support and organise events aimed to promote conservation and sustainable utilisation of the land, including forests and wild land. As part of our Valuing Nature Action Plan, we commit to provide opportunities for our staff, students and external partners to engage with sustainability and take meaningful action, personally and professionally as part of the Nature Positive Ambassadors programme, a group of volunteers are tasked with delivering at least 10 nature related events a year.  As part of this programme, we commit to develop and agree strategic partnerships to engage our communities to support proven natural solutions to capture carbon, restore the natural world and enhance environmental sustainability. Annually, we also support a minimum of 6 student research projects designed to enhance biodiversity and conservation, 3 for local businesses, and 3 using our own campus as a Living Lab. 

In addition to this, we also work with local conservation organisations planting trees and helping with repairs in nature reserves and woodlands. For example, we worked with a local resident conservation group in our local community in Ardwick on a tree planting project to enhance nature and wildlife. We have also partnered with the Eden Reforestation Projecthelping to plant over 4,500 trees – that’s over 1,400 tonnes of CO2 sequestered over the next 25 years.

Maintain and extend current ecosystems’ biodiversity 

We work directly to maintain and extend existing ecosystems and their biodiversity. Alongside our three main commitments—1) achieving 20% biodiversity net gain on all new construction and refurbishment projects, 2) increasing green space by 10% by 2028 (from 2018 levels), and 3) improving green space quality by 30% by 2028 (based on Defra’s biodiversity metric from the 2022 baseline)—we outline further efforts in our Valuing Nature Action Plan:

  • Enhance the condition of existing ponds to ‘moderate’ and create at least one new pond by 2028. 
  • Increase bug, bat, and bird boxes by 20% by 2028. 
  • Achieve Bronze Accreditation in the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Awards by 2028. 
  • Improve grassland and woodland habitats to ‘good’ and ‘moderate’ condition, respectively, by 2028. 

To establish baselines and protect ecosystems, we map campus biodiversity through the iNaturalist app, engaging in the City Nature Challenge annually, as well as conducting our own biodiversity audits. Our researchers conduct field studies across the UK and globally, assessing local ecosystem health to maintain biodiversity.  

We lead government-funded research into climate change impacts, focusing on alpine ecosystems and the effects of reduced snow cover on soil microbial communities. This research explores carbon and nitrogen loss and methods to mitigate climate-related biodiversity decline. 

Located on the Fallowfield campus, the Firs Environmental Research Station offers a green space for research and community engagement on biodiversity and food security. It includes a new research greenhouse, the Manchester Air Quality Supersite and outdoor experimental areas, and the University’s Living Plant Collection, featuring rare and endangered plant species curated in botanical biomes. 

Sustainably farmed food on campus 

The University has several policies to ensure that food on campus is sustainably farmed, such as our Sustainable Food Policy (reviewed 2023), Animal welfare policy and Sustainable Seafood Policy.

We strive to ensure that we offer healthy, sustainable catering that is produced, processed and traded in ways that contribute to the local economies and sustainable livelihoods, avoid damaging our planet, enhance animal welfare and provide social benefits. We do this by buying locally to support UK producers; by continuing to be a member of Manchester Veg People, a co-operative of local organic growers and buyers who worked together to help develop a new model for the local food supply chain; by purchasing high welfare meat and dairy; and by sourcing sustainable seafood to help reduce the negative impacts on fish stocks.

Our Sustainable food in tender specifcations shows our commitment to food sustainability and demonstrates how we include sustainably farmed food in our tenders. Our University has achieved a Fairtrade University one star award, after being audited for the academic year 2022/23, a status we have held since 2005.

Monitoring IUCN and other conservation species 

We identify, monitor and protect any IUCN Red Listed species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by the operation of our UniversityWe conduct biodiversity audits as part of our development and land management processes to identify any protected or endangered species in areas affected by the university’s operations. In collaboration with local conservation volunteers and experts, we use tools like the iNaturalist app to engage the University community in mapping species, supporting ongoing monitoring and protection efforts on and around campus. 

Our assessments have identified four species lis ted as UK Biodiversity Priority Species and two listed as amber on the Birds of Conservation Concern list. In response, we have implemented specific actions to protect these species. Through our Valuing Nature Action Plan (reviewed 2023), we are committed to achieving Bronze Accreditation in the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Awards by 2028 and increasing bug, bat, and bird boxes by 20% within the same timeframe. 

At Jodrell Bank, we have taken significant steps to protect the habitat of the Great Crested Newt, a species on the IUCN Red List. To mitigate risks, we worked with local services to relocate the newts to two new ponds in suitable habitats and have established procedures to safeguard them during any future construction projects. 

Our broader efforts, guided by the Valuing Nature Action Plan, include actively enhancing grasslands, woodlands, and ponds to support species of conservation concern. We also ensure that construction and refurbishment projects across the university meet a minimum of 20% biodiversity net gain, minimizing negative impacts on local ecosystems. 

Local biodiversity included in planning and development 

We fully integrate local biodiversity into all planning and development processes as part of our commitment to sustainability. Before any new construction or refurbishment, we review our biodiversity audits to identify affected habitats or species, ensuring we understand and mitigate potential impacts on local ecosystems. 

Through our Living Campus Plan, we establish an ecological baseline for each site and implement measures to achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity. We ensure no net loss of green infrastructure and explore options like green roofs and walls to reduce surface water run-off and enhance biodiversity. We also set targets for sustainable urban drainage and habitat protection through our Valuing Nature Action Plan (reviewed 2023) and Design Code of Practice. 

Development proposals contribute to: 

  • Prioritizing local species that support wildlife and prolong the flowering season. 
  • Supporting invertebrate diversity (bees, moths, butterflies). 
  • Preserving priority bird species (six priority species identified in the Living Campus Plan) 
  • Supporting bat populations through habitat conservation. 

Where trees must be removed, we plant two semi-mature trees for every one lost. Landscaping is enhanced with wildflower turf, pollinator-friendly plants, and hedgerows to support local wildlife. 

We also work with ecologists and conservation experts to protect species like the Great Crested Newt at Jodrell Bank, through habitat relocation, green space creation, and wildlife-friendly infrastructure (bird, bat, and bug boxes). 

Further examples include: 

  • The MECD project, featuring a green roof, tree planting, and pollinator-friendly landscaping.
  • University Green with tree planting and species for pollinator support.
  • The Henry Royce Institute, featuring tree and hedgerow planting and wildflowers.
  • The GEIC Pocket Park, expanding green spaces on campus.
  • The Old Quad redevelopment introduced 16 new trees, 4,500 plants, log piles, shallow pools, and bat and bird boxes, resulting in an 80% biodiversity net gain  

For all major construction and refurbishment projects, we commit to a minimum of 20% biodiversity net gain (BNG), ensuring that developments reduce environmental impact while enhancing local ecosystems. This is monitored through the Environmental Sustainability Project Tracker, which embeds sustainability principles in the design and construction of new builds and major refurbishments. 

Alien species on campus 

Our policy is to fully align with UK government guidelines regarding alien and/or invasive species on campus. We conduct regular campus audits to identify and manage invasive species listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. We are also a partner The City of Manchester’s 2022-2030 Biodiversity Strategy, which includes the development of Invasive Non-Native Species Action Plan for Manchester.  

We prioritize the effective management of alien and invasive species and closely monitor our landscaping practices. If invasive species are detected, we take immediate action to contain them. For example, during recent construction work on our new Fallowfield Student Village, we discovered Japanese Hogweed. Prompt and responsible removal was necessary to mitigate its impact. We utilize approved water-based herbicides, such as glyphosate, and ensure that all invasive materials are disposed of in compliance with the legal requirements outlined in the provided links.

In addition to these management efforts, we actively engage the community through educational events and activities aimed at reducing the presence of alien species on campus and beyond. For instance, our student group, the “Tree Musketeers,” plays a hands-on role in removing invasive species, such as clearing rhododendrons from local pathways. Meanwhile, our Manchester Museum has launched initiatives to help local residents identify invasive species in ponds and provided practical guidance on effective management strategies. These efforts are designed to raise awareness and foster a collaborative approach to preserving our natural environment. 

Hazardous waste disposal

We have established processes, policies, and practices to ensure the responsible management of hazardous waste at the University. Our Environmental Sustainability Code of Practice for Professional Services, published in 2024, outlines operational priorities and commitments, emphasizing that both staff and students play a crucial role in reducing our environmental impact, including processes, policies and practices designed to ensure hazardous waste is managed responsibly.

We have comprehensive staff guidelines on how to dispose of all waste types and a supplementary policy for hazardous waste. These policies cover the identification, handling, and disposal of hazardous materials, including chemicals, biological waste, and electronic waste. We partner with certified disposal companies to ensure that hazardous waste is treated and transported safely, adhering to all legal requirements.  

We also prioritize education, providing toolkits and training for staff, students, and personnel on waste disposal protocols, including the proper identification, storage, and record-keeping for hazardous materials. These measures ensure that our community is well-equipped to manage hazardous waste responsibly while contributing to the university’s environmental sustainability goals. 

All relevant staff undergo thorough training to ensure they are equipped to handle and dispose of hazardous materials safely and in accordance with regulations. Our A-Z of waste guide provides specific advice for various types of waste, while our dedicated Hazardous Waste Policy outlines detailed procedures for managing hazardous materials. We offer advice and guidance on identifying hazardous waste, handling its disposal, and maintaining accurate records, particularly in our laboratories.

In our laboratories, we follow the LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework), which ensures proper chemical labelling and storage to support correct disposal in line with the Hazardous Waste Policy. LEAF also ensures that waste materials are disposed of correctly, preventing cross-contamination with other waste streams. Laboratories are equipped with chemical spill kits to manage hazardous spills safely and efficiently, ensuring minimal risk to staff and the environment. 

Through these initiatives, we remain committed to protecting both the campus environment and the broader ecosystem. 

Water discharge guidelines and standards 

Our university is dedicated to maintaining high water quality standards and guidelines for all water discharges, ensuring the protection of ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Our approach is informed by national regulations and best practices in environmental sustainability. 

  1. Regulatory Compliance: We strictly adhere to UK government guidelines concerning water quality, ensuring that all discharges meet or exceed established legal requirements. We maintain the necessary permits to oversee and regulate our water discharge activities where appropriate. Our water is treated by United Utilities at one of their 569 wastewater treatment works, ensuring compliance with rigorous quality standards. 
  2. Wastewater Management: During the design phase of our construction projects, our Design Code of Practice mandates that all construction or refurbishment projects include criteria for sustainable urban drainage systems. We thoroughly assess the effectiveness and capacity of these drainage systems to ensure optimal performance in managing stormwater and wastewater.  Additionally, we are committed to reducing our overall water reducing our overall water consumption by 15% by 2028, using 2022 as our baseline. This will be achieved through proactive measures, such as addressing leaks and replacing inefficient equipment. 
  3. Pollution Prevention Targets: As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship, we aim for zero reportable pollution incidents affecting air, land, and water across the university estate by 2028. We are also focused on minimizing our environmental impact by reducing pesticide usage on campus by 10% each year. 
  4. Liquid and Hazardous Waste Guidelines: We implement strict guidelines for managing liquid and hazardous waste to ensure proper treatment and disposal, thereby protecting water quality. Our comprehensive hazardous waste policy outlines safe disposal practices and is accompanied by an A-Z of waste guide for easy reference. Additionally, our laboratory facilities are equipped with chemical spill kits, and we provide staff training on safe handling and disposal practices, including environmental training through our LEAF program.

Through these comprehensive measures, our university strives to uphold water quality standards that not only protect ecosystems and wildlife but also promote the health and welfare of the community. 

Plastic waste reduction

We have multiple policies and workstreams to reduce plastic waste on campus. Our Responsible Plastic Action Plan details the actions we are taking, and the targets we look to achieve by 2025.

As a university, we are committed to reducing single-use products and supporting the circular economy by considering the entire lifecycle of the products we purchase and the resources we use. To support this goal, we have established a dedicated Material Resources Management Group, consisting of operational and academic experts. This group meets regularly to drive efficiencies and embed lifecycle considerations into decision-making and operations across the university.