Table 7: Sustainability aspects and impacts, significance and potential management responses in relation to the maintenance of campus grounds( Clayton 2013:32)
ACTIVITY ASPECT IMPACT SIGNIFICANCE MANAGEMENT
Grounds maintenance
Water use |
Resource depletion |
Depends on climate and geography – will be of major significance for some sites |
Fuel use
Fertiliser use
Resource depletion GHG emissions Air pollution
Depends on extent of mechanised maintenance, impacts likely to be moderate
Resource depletion Impacts generally Damage to soil structure moderate, but may be Runoff / eutrophication more significant where a university is located near sensitive natural ecosystems
Herbicide / pesticide use Resource depletion Effects on non-target species Runoff / water pollution Spillage
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Soil disturbance
Garden organics( green waste)
Biodiversity and ecosystem services may be maintained, enhanced or reduced, depending on maintenance regime
Erosion Compaction Dust
Reduction of landfill space GHG emissions Impacts of transport to landfill Land and aquifer contamination Production / use of compost
Campus amenity Impact on work / study environment, productivity, quality of life
Local employment
Generally as above; however the impact of a spill may represent a major risk
Positive or negative impacts range from relatively low to high, depending on location( urbanised vs. natural ecosystems)
Generally low, but may be moderate, again depending on location
Moderate negative impacts from landfill, but these will increase as landfill space runs out in many regions Moderate positive impact of composting
Moderate positive impacts
Impact on local economy Range from low to relatively high, depending on location
Use recycled water and / or captured rainwater Select low water requirement plants
Substitute biofuels for fossil fuels Purchase fuelefficient equipment Reduce use of mechanical equipment Improve equipment maintenance, training
Replace artificial fertilisers with organic products
Reduce chemical use Substitute non-persistent for persistent chemicals Improve chemical safety – storage, handling, training
Specify local native species Preserve significant vegetation during building works Avoid monocultures Avoid environmental weeds
Apply mulch Use no-till methods
Process garden organics to generate mulch and compost
Continually improve maintenance standards, training
Hire grounds staff from local area
The University Campus as a model of environmental and settlement sustainability 167