SDG 15: Life on land

Our research

A pioneering global study, published by Bristol researchers in March 2023, has shown that rates of deforestation are fast outstripping efforts at forest regrowth. As well as providing vital ecosystems, these tropical forests have a significant role in tackling carbon emissions and climate change. The University’s Cabot Institute for the Environment and partners at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research used satellite data to examine deforestation and forest lost or damaged by human and environmental activity such as fire and logging. Their findings will now help inform policymakers and scientists seeking to conserve and protect these vital areas.

Researchers from Bristol Veterinary School, in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, have shown how providing water sources in residential gardens helps wildlife thrive. The study compared the quantity and variety of wildlife visiting urban lake water sources and residential gardens in England, and found there was no difference in the number of smaller species of wildlife visiting urban lakes and residential gardens, nor among individual water source types. Their results reveal garden water sources are as vital as urban lakes for supporting wildlife, particularly during periods of hot, dry weather.

Our students

Bristol Veterinary School’s unique MSc Wildlife Health and Conservation programme is offered in partnership with Bristol Zoological Society. Students gain practical skills, experience and academic understanding of areas including animal rehabilitation care, the effects of human activities and climate change on wildlife, supporting endangered species, and enabling reintroductions into the wild. The course has been carefully designed to support graduates into roles in wildlife health, conversation and management.

The University’s Cabot Institute for the Environment and Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research have partnered to fund three new PhD students exploring the impacts of climate change on health. The three students, who started their studies in 2023, are looking at how health and health inequalities are considered within local climate change strategies, heatwaves and heat adaptations in low-income communities in Ghana and South Africa, and the impacts of heat stress on pregnancy in different species.

Our communities

The University of Bristol-led CONNECTED Network has trained 21 plant scientists from 11 countries in vector and virus diagnostics in Nairobi, Kenya. The course gave participants specialist knowledge enabling them to identify which virus is devastating a plant and which insect is carrying it. CONNECTED aims to create real impacts on plant health internationally by upskilling many more lab analysts, researchers, plant health inspectors and officers, and embedding interdisciplinary knowledge within the agricultural systems of several African countries.

Given Bristol’s reputation as a green city, there are many opportunities for local communities to engage with the University on nature and the environment. City-wide events in 2022/23 included the Festival of Nature, which celebrated its 20^th anniversary with sessions including the Wild Weekend on the Harbourside, to which University researchers contributed. Other, University-run events included the Barton Hill Family day at our micro-campus, and the Bee and Pollination Festival at the Botanic Gardens.

Ourselves

The University estate spreads over 1,000 acres and includes two farms, Bristol Botanic Garden, scrub, woodland, species-rich grassland, and open water – habitat types of local and national importance. Our trees are an integral part of that landscape, and many are long-lived, providing environmental, social and economic benefits that are realised over many generations. Responsible stewardship of our campus is a priority, and close to 5,000 trees have been tagged, mapped and documented on our University GIS-based tree management system, representing nearly 670 different species and cultivars. A web-based map has also been created, to share the locations and names of trees within our gardens with staff, students, visitors and the public.

The Royal Fort Gardens, dating from the 18^th Century and situated in the heart of the main University of Bristol campus, are a popular recreational spot for staff, students and the public. They feature pieces of public art alongside a pond, trees, and biodiverse habitats, including a wildflower meadow which was planted as part of the My Wild University project to help boost the number of pollinators. In 2023, the Gardens received a coveted Green Flag Award, officially recognising them as one of the country’s best parks.