The University’s overarching visionTo deliver a significant and measurable improvement in the biodiversity of the University of Cambridge estate, and the Greater Cambridge Area more generally, in a manner that educates and inspires an appreciation of the natural environment, and that encourages interventions, research and innovation to enhance and protect biodiversity for future generations. Our targets:
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Our approach
Biodiversity Action Plan
The University has now published its first Biodiversity Action Plan to provide guidelines for enhancing biodiversity across the University.
The Cambridge Biodiversity Metric (CBM) is a modified version of the Natural England Biodiversity Metric 2.0 (NEBM) allowing us to quantify and set ambitious targets for biodiversity increases across existing habitats on our estate which exceed those recommended in the NEBM. On this page you can access a summary of the Cambridge Biodiversity Metric, the full document and appendices.
Biodiversity Baseline Summary Report
Click on the image to view a summary of the key findings arising from the University's first biodiversity baseline assessment undertaken in 2017-2018. The results of this assessment have been key to developing the University's first Biodiversity Action Plan and understanding the current state of ecology on its estate. A blog on the baseline assessment, highlighting some of the 162 notable species recorded, is available on our website.
How can you get involved?
Share your wildlife sightings with us! By joining the Cambridge University and Colleges iRecord activity you can help create a nature-friendly estate. Get started with our iRecord Quick Start Guide or, if you need more detailed support, you can also view our full iRecord User Guide, or watch this recent talk by Matt Hayes, Department of Zoology, discussing the benefits of citizen science, followed by a guided run through on how to use iRecord.
There are many other ways to get involved in biodiversity in Cambridge, here are a few of them:
- Engage in your department or site with the 'Wilder Cambridge' project and take part in biodiversity-related activities to compete against other teams! You can get all the information related to the project, including a biodiversity engagement pack on our resources page.
- Join the University's Biodiversity Yammer group and ask questions, share biodiversity photos and connect with like-minded colleagues. All staff have automatic access to Yammer.
- Become involved in a local biodiversity organisation: Mammals, plants, birds, insects… whatever your interest is, chances are there is already an organisation you can get involved in! You can find a list of local organisations engaged in biodiversity here.
- Visit our guidance page for self-guided sheets on monitoring, identifying and attracting wildlife.