Biodiversity
DCU Albert College
Biodiversity is the critical foundation of the Earth’s life support system, on which the welfare of current and future generations depends, according to the global Convention on Biological Diversity.
DCU is committed to protecting biodiversity and embedding this protection into all aspects of our decision-making including:
- building and grounds management
- public realm spaces
- the construction of new buildings
DCU is committed to protecting biodiversity and embedding this protection into decision making across all sectors of the University including building and grounds management, public realm spaces and in the construction of new buildings. The use values associated with biodiversity are immense and can be categorised as economic, socio-cultural and health values, with each category having several benefits associated with it.
- Habitats for pollinators: to provide habitats where pollinators and can survive and thrive, DCU will reduce the frequency of mowing and collect clippings, introduce artificial solitary bee nests, and bird boxes and introduce and maintain a wildflower meadow.
- Invasive alien species: DCU aims to identify and monitor all medium and high impact invasive plant species and remove where feasible.
- Landscape management: to maintain and enhance biodiversity DCU will prioritise native plants in new planting schemes (at least 75% of plants to be pollinator friendly), reduce hedge cutting and cut between November and January, keep fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides well away from trees, hedges and verges, identify at least 10 locations that are mown under a pollinator friendly regime (5 cut and lifts per year after 15th April), and identify at least 4 areas that can be converted to perennial planted boarder.
- Dublin City Council’s Climate Action Plan: DCU will work with DCC and other local stakeholders such as Drumcondra Tidy Towns, local residence associations and will assess the feasibility of further green walls, potential for wetland.
- Biodiversity Team: DCU will seek to build a biodiversity team with representatives from the student body, expert academic and professional staff. This team would continue to log existing and new ‘Actions for Pollinators’ on the mapping system and promote these across all campuses, provide or facilitate training on biodiversity and how to take action to protect it.
DCU has established a Biodiversity Working Group to support biodiversity on campus and promote greater engagement across the University. This group is composed of academic staff, professional staff including the DCU Estates Team along with members of the student body.
The group focuses on ensuring that there is an active platform for discussion when teaching, research or engagement activities interact with our environment to promote the safety of our campus biodiversity.
Enhancing the ecosystem with Dr. Tom McCloughlin
Biodiversity and Pollinator Plan
DCU actively supports the National Pollinator Plan with several measures implemented to protect and restore nature and biodiversity across our campuses.
Designated 'No Mow' and Pollinator Friendly areas have been established, along with Green Areas across all campuses that are allowed to grow during season.
DCU 'No Mow' and Pollinator Friendly areas
The DCU Grounds Team have implemented several measures to reduce the use of artificial herbicide and pesticide on campus.
The use of such chemicals is kept to an absolute minimum and is targeted at specific areas with focus on protection and restoration of biodiversity- all flowering plants are allowed to flower before being removed in order to support pollinators.