Seneca achieves the WWF Living Campus Certification | MyNews | Seneca Students

Seneca has proudly received the Living Campus certification from WWF-Canada, a testament to our unwavering dedication to sustainability, conservation and environmental stewardship. This certification, part of WWF-Canada’s 2023 initiative, celebrates educational institutions that actively foster sustainability on their campuses.

Seneca’s conservation efforts are guided by the forthcoming Standards for Landscape Design and Maintenance, which integrates standards for maintenance in the design phase. These standards focus on climate resiliency, biodiversity, naturalization, soil health and low-impact development. These standards formalize and build upon the foundations of how Seneca currently designs and maintains its landscapes.

A standout feature of Seneca’s achievement is the “No Mow Inventory and Expansion Project.” This innovative project involved cataloging existing no-mow zones at the Newnham campus, identifying potential areas for expansion, and incorporating these practices into future landscape design standards. The goal is to create semi to fully naturalized zones with grasses and other vegetation that require limited to no maintenance, thereby enhancing biodiversity and ecological health.

A notable aspect of Seneca’s project is the development of a comprehensive campus map using GIS technology. This map will detail maintenance zones, no-mow areas, utilities, low-impact development features, and vegetation inventories. By reducing mowing operations, Seneca has created a more hospitable environment for wildlife, including squirrels, ground-nesting bees and pollinators.

The sustainability team at Seneca has collaborated closely with grounds staff to select areas for no-mow zones, aiming to engage students with naturalized landscapes, integrate sustainability into daily campus life, and enhance the aesthetics of green spaces.

Looking ahead, the project plans to create a green space along Au Large, adjacent to Building A at Newnham, which will include mulching and planting native trees and shrubs.

Additionally, as part of the WWF engagement program, Seneca students can earn a free Living Planet Certification, further promoting environmental awareness and action within the campus community.