Live Correspondent: Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) has been inducted into the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, a global network of over 100 universities from almost 50 countries that have pledged to work to prevent and reverse nature loss by addressing their own impacts and restoring ecosystems harmed by their activities.

The University of Oxford and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced the launch of the Alliance on December 08, 2022, during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).

The pledges include four key elements: baseline assessments; specific, time-bound, and measurable targets; bold actions to reduce biodiversity impacts, protect and restore species and ecosystems; and transparent annual reporting.

E.J. Milner-Gulland, Tasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford, and co-founder of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, said: "As universities, we occupy a unique position in educating future leaders, researching solutions to environmental challenges, and influencing our communities and governments. By addressing our own institutions' environmental impacts, we can be powerful thought leaders while also directly contributing to restoring nature."

The Alliance brings higher education institutions together to use their power and influence as drivers of positive change. People from 408 universities are already a part of the network which also includes a Student Ambassador Programme encompassing over 100 students from 35 countries.

Dr. K Ayaz Rabbani, Associate Professor and Head of IUB’s Department of Environmental Science and Management, said: “We, at IUB, are very excited to be part of this network and hope to work with the partner organizations to come up with effective and meaningful ways to improve the biodiversity of our campus and the community in general. We are hoping that the experience we gain will be a positive step towards reducing our carbon footprint.”

As part of this initiative, IUB’s Department of Environmental Science and Management has conducted two baseline surveys to assess the university’s carbon footprint and biodiversity and identified areas to reduce impacts and increase biodiversity by achieving short- and long-term targets. So far, a total of 10 IUB students have joined the initiative as ambassadors and are volunteering with mentors from the University of Oxford and UNEP.

Nature Positive Universities began in 2022 as a partnership between UNEP and the University of Oxford, established off the back of research by the Department of Biology into the University’s biodiversity footprint. The aim is to engage universities in prioritizing nature restoration within the higher education sector, which will form a major contribution to the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Universities have a substantial role to play in moving urgently from degrading nature to restoring it: students are future leaders; universities create knowledge and nurture thinkers; and directly impact the planet as land owners and consumers. Uniting universities for ecosystem restoration, therefore, has a wider impact on the local communities and beyond. To know more about the Alliance, visit: www.naturepositiveuniversities.net

Dhaka, 12 January (campuslive24.com)// BSC