No. 70: Rewild areas of your campus
No. 70: Rewild areas of your campus
Number 70
Learn why you should do this:
Rewilding areas of the campus in schools can offer significant environmental, educational, and financial benefits. Rewilding refers to the process of restoring natural areas by reintroducing native plants and animals and letting nature take its course. Here are some reasons why rewilding is beneficial in schools.
Environmental Benefits
By rewilding areas of the campus, schools can help mitigate the negative effects of climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rewilding can help sequester carbon from the atmosphere and reduce the impact of climate change. Native plants can absorb and store carbon dioxide, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Rewilding can also help restore biodiversity, providing habitat for native species and supporting ecosystem health.
Educational Benefits
Rewilding areas of the campus can provide numerous educational opportunities for students. Students can learn about the importance of native plant and animal species, the benefits of biodiversity, and the role of ecosystems in maintaining a healthy planet. Schools can use rewilding as a teaching tool to introduce concepts like ecological restoration, environmental science, and sustainability. In addition, students can participate in rewilding projects, developing their leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Financial Benefits
Rewilding areas of the campus can also have financial benefits for schools. By using native plants instead of exotic ones, schools can reduce their water consumption and maintenance costs. Native plants are adapted to local conditions, so they require less water and fertilizer, reducing irrigation and fertilizer expenses. In addition, rewilding can create a low-maintenance, self-sustaining landscape, reducing the need for costly maintenance services. Finally, rewilding can increase property values, making schools more attractive to prospective students and families.
Experts in the field support the benefits of rewilding. For example, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is a nonprofit organization that supports the rewilding movement. The NWF notes that rewilding can provide numerous environmental, educational, and social benefits. According to the NWF, rewilding can help improve air and water quality, increase biodiversity, and provide habitat for native wildlife. The organization also notes that rewilding can help promote environmental education and community engagement.
Another expert in the field is Dr. Doug Tallamy, a professor of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. Dr. Tallamy is a proponent of using native plants to support biodiversity and promote environmental health. In his book, “Bringing Nature Home,” Dr. Tallamy discusses the importance of using native plants to create healthy ecosystems. According to Dr. Tallamy, native plants are critical to the survival of native insects, which in turn provide food for other wildlife. By rewilding areas of the campus, schools can create healthy ecosystems that support local wildlife and promote environmental health.
In conclusion, rewilding areas of the campus in schools can provide significant environmental, educational, and financial benefits. By promoting biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions, and providing educational opportunities for students, rewilding can help schools become leaders in sustainability and environmental education.
Sources:
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Paloniemi, R., & Apostolopoulou, E. (2020). Rewilding: A new paradigm for nature conservation and restoration?. Journal for Nature Conservation, 57, 125874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125874
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Natural England. (2020). Educational access to green spaces. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/educational-access-to-green-spaces/educational-access-to-green-spaces
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Balmford, A., Cole, L., Harrison, J., Beresford, J., Green, J., Ingram, J., & Jackson, J. (2002). Conservation conflicts across Africa. Science, 291(5513), 2616–2619. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1056466
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Frantz, J. M., & Mayer, A. L. (2021). Benefits of Nature Play for Children and Pre-service Teachers. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 13(1), 93–110. https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2021-v13-i1-10816
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Jacobs, M. (2019, September 25). Schools should be teaching kids about climate change. Here’s how. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/schools-should-be-teaching-kids-about-climate-change-heres-how-123316
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Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B., de Vries, S., Flanders, J., Folke, C., Frumkin, H., Gross, J. J., Hartig, T., Kahn Jr, P. H., Kuo, M., Lawler, J. J., Levin, P. S., Lindahl, T., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Mitchell, R., Ouyang, Z., Roe, J., … Daily, G. C. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances, 5(7), eaax0903. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax0903
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