Natural environment

The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things within the biosphere that have evolved for millions of years: landscapes, oceans, waterways, skies, atmosphere and biodiversity. A healthy natural environment enables the flourishing of human life and is essential for our wellbeing. However, the natural environment has been altered at a large scale in the modern world by human actions.

In its unique location, the University has plenty of green spaces and properties that border protected areas and reserves. These spaces are open to all students, staff and the community. The University has a social and environmental responsibility to manage, maintain and restore the natural environments found on each of its campuses and facilities to best practice standards, as well as to meet legal requirements and be in line with regional natural resource management strategies and frameworks. These environments have been, and continue to be cared for, by Aboriginal people in lutruwita/Tasmania for over 60,000 years.

Our commitment to the natural environment

Nature Positive Pledge

We have joined a global network of 400+ universities on a Nature Positive journey. Launched by UN Environmental Program in collaboration with the University of Oxford to commit to enhancing the university’s positive impacts on nature (both land and aquatic ecosystems) and restoring species and ecosystems that have been harmed by the impacts of a university and its activities.

To be 'Nature Positive' there must be a measured biodiversity baseline, timeframe, a target, clear actions, analysis of how actions add up, monitoring and transparent reporting. The University of Tasmania has been on a nature positive journey for some time, having already completed a species assessment of all our campuses, including identifying those that are of concern, threatened or endangered. We also have assessed weeds, natural values, and threats. Our pledge recognises actions we have already taken and that we will build on these.

Policies, Strategies and Plans

The University is a leader in environmental education and research, and this work has contributed to greater awareness of the importance of sound environmental management in the broader community. The decisions of students and staff not only impact the campus environments but also environments that are physically distant. Consistent with this, the University has a focus on best practice management of the impact that University operations have on the environment. This is reflected in:

• The University’s Strategic Direction: “Our work occurs in an environment of extraordinary significance and beauty. Islands are great reminders that we have to work with ecosystems not against them. Sustainability is a theme that needs to echo through all that we do.”
• The Sustainability Policy, which dictates that the University will develop, maintain, and operate sustainable campuses, both built and natural environments, through applying outcomes driven sustainable design principles, assurance frameworks and operational tools.
• The Strategic Framework for Sustainability (PDF 3.1 MB), which includes our commitment to "manage the University’s natural environment effectively for biodiversity with emphasis on protecting rare and threatened native species and minimising environmental harm."
• The University's Integrated Pest Management Plan (PDF 0.5MB), an environmentally friendly approach to controlling pests that focuses on prevention and monitoring, and uses a combination of control methods such as cultural, biological, physical and chemical tools, but only using pesticides as a last resort.

A University Natural Environment Action Plan in currently being developed and will be made publicly available when finalised. This plan will guide the entire University community in achieving our natural environment objectives, including conservation of native species and their habitats, reducing human impacts on the environment, and restoring natural values.

Our natural environment initiatives

Support for land ecosystems

The University of Tasmania acknowledges that environmental protection and sustainability are key priorities in the way the University operates’ and aims for net positive environmental outcomes, with one of the main objectives being to maintain and improve ecosystems and biodiversity in an ecologically appropriate manner, both on campus and in shared land, in consultation with the university and local community groups.

On campus initiatives

• The inclusion of the protection and enhancement of the natural environment as a key element for the University Reserve’s fire management plan including suppression of weeds and encouraging endemic flora and fauna communities (Sandy Bay campus).
• Multi-year efforts delivering protection and improvement of Newnham Creek (Newnham campus),
• Protection of penguin nesting habitat and the installation of the largest green roof in Tasmania using plant seeds collected and grown out locally (West Park campus).
• Feral animal and weed control, following an Integrated Management Plan
• Inclusion of natural areas into the campus sustainability trails, with explanatory signage for local threatened species found in the area.

Off-campus initiatives

• Species Hotels (2016-ongoing), an award-winning program that involves architecture students and lecturers working in collaboration with schools, NGOs such as Greening Australia, scientists, landowners, artists, designers and engineers. Every year, students design accommodation for a range of native animals, including threatened species (e.g., Tasmanian devils, quolls, micro bats and pardalotes), with ‘hotels’ then installed in shared land, hence contributing to maintaining ecosystems.
• Through the UTAS Landcare Society (2019-ongoing), the University works with Landcare Tasmania, and Landcare groups across the state. The Society organises several events annually, with a focus on community environmental restoration projects, ranging from removing weeds from urban parks to restoring pine plantations back to native forests and restoring degraded wetlands.
• The University conducts collaborative research supported by government, NGOs and business organisations from Tasmania, Australia and overseas (including Greening Australia, Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Bush Heritage Australia, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, NRM North, Ian Potter Foundation and Pennicott Wilderness Journeys). This long-term research collaboration, starting more than a decade ago, includes a range of projects to ensure that the restoration of threatened species habitats in the Tasmanian midlands continues to be cutting-edge and provide solutions that will have the greatest positive impacts. This work focuses on identifying mechanisms that can be used to manage these landscapes into the future, ensuring their long-term stability.

Natural environment education and outreach

Conservation and restoration

The University has partnered with various organisations to deliver events aimed to promote conservation, restoration and sustainable utilisation of the land, as well as to maintain shared land ecosystems. Some recent examples are:

• Conservation Science Symposium (2023) in partnership with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and other NGOs and government entities. This public awareness event covered the work being done in Tasmanian reserves, landscape-scale conservation science in a time of climate change, and other aspects of conservation and sustainable use of the land, including maintaining water supplies by ecosystem/landscape management
• Newnham Creek bank rehabilitation events (2023-2024) in partnership with Tamar NRM, the UTAS Landcare Society and the Environment Society, where students, staff and local community were invited to undertake rehabilitation work by removing invasive willows and blackberry and replanting hundreds of Tasmanian native trees, shrubs and grasses to boost biodiversity.
• BioBlitzes (2022-2024) involving an ecological survey of wildlife and experts' talks promoting conservation
• Inclusion of natural environment-focused projects in the Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS).

Sustainable use of land for agriculture and tourism

The University also offers educational opportunities for local and regional communities on sustainable management of land for agriculture (often delivered by our Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture) and tourism. Some recent examples are:

• Fruit Growers Tasmania Conference (2023), a key event for the horticultural calendar in southern Australia, which attracted some 200 growers and other participants. This event covered sustainability related topics including integrated pest management, pollination using alternative pollinators and how different orchard floor management strategies affect soil health.
• The University is a partner of agriCULTURED, an organisation that aims to cultivate opportunities and shape the future of Australia’s agri-food sector and regenerative tourism. The annual agriCULTURED multi-day event includes sessions for the community on sustainable management of land for agriculture and agritourism. For example, in the 2023 program, the 'Feeding Tasmania: Our Food Future' session explored how we feed a growing population while maintaining or improving Tasmania’s land for future generations and covered how leaders in the Tasmanian food industry are innovating to shape a future where we care for our land and waterways and build a resilient food system; and the 'Conversations in the City' event had a stream dedicated to "Agritourism for change."
• ‘Tourism and Risk in the Antarctic Region’ workshop (2023), organised by the University’s 'Human Engagements with Antarctica' network and aimed to international researchers and industry professionals in the community. This workshop addressed some key themes in relation to sustainable use of land for tourism: risk posed to/by Antarctic tourism and scientific expeditions, risk mitigation strategies, and comparative research between tourism to the Arctic and Antarctica.
• The Tourism, Environmental and Cultural Heritage degree equips students with a deep understanding of managing tourism in sites of cultural and environmental value (hence involving sustainable use of land to ensure conservation). Students also connect with industry partners and learn through authentic hands-on experiences.

Our progress

The University properties in Tasmania are regularly assessed for natural values and threats using the Natural Values Atlas and the Land Information System Tasmania (LIST) Map , an online geographic information tool that enables the viewing of geographical information and data points at state-wide scale in Tasmania. The LIST is managed by Land Tasmania, a Division of Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE).

The most recent assessment occurred in early 2019. It includes natural values of conservation concern and its main threats, including flora, fauna, and plant communities that are threatened in Tasmania, as well as invasive flora and fauna, protected areas, and sea level rise risk found at University properties and within 500m of the property boundaries.

• Threatened species in and around University properties (PDF 526.5 KB)
• Invasive plant (weed) species in and around University properties (PDF 671.4 KB)
• University properties and associated natural values and threats (PDF 56.8 KB)

Get involved

There are several things that you can do at the university and at home to assist in conserving and restoring the natural environment.

• Participate in the Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS) with a natural environment related project.
• Become involved with the University south Environment Collective group or a Tasmanian University Student Association club or society with a focus on the natural environment.
• Get involved with your local Landcare or environmental group such as Conservation Volunteers, or start your own group! Your local council may also have a Bushcare or environmental group you can join.
• Try planting native species in your garden at home to create habitats for local wildlife; native birds, mammals, reptiles and insects all need native habitat to survive.
• The Department of the Environment regularly update a calendar on environmentally related events. Also, Inspiring Tasmania list events and citizen science projects. Find an event or a project that you are interested in and get some local participation happening in your area!

To support natural environment initiatives at the University, please download this poster and display it in your area:

• Natural environment campaign poster (PDF 1.2 MB)