Biodiversity and Beyond: Campus as a Living Lab for Sustainability and Social Learning

Abstract

Biodiversity loss driven by human-induced environmental degradation is a global issue, with significant implications even at the micro-level, such as educational campuses. This paper reports on a seven-year biodiversity restoration and service-learning initiative at UCC India, developed in response to the ecological damage caused by the 2018 Kerala floods. The 24-hectare campus, which served as a temporary refuge for over thirteen thousand people during the disaster, experienced substantial vegetation loss. In the aftermath, a collaborative effort involving students, faculty, and local communities aimed to restore and enhance campus biodiversity through the establishment of fruit tree gardens, conservation of rare and endangered species, and integration of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. The initiative adopted a multidisciplinary methodology combining classroom instruction, fieldwork, herbarium studies, and reflective learning. Results indicate 44.56% of species are available year-round, with 40.22% used in traditional medicine and nearly half underutilized or unknown to the local population. The project not only improved ecological resilience but also enriched student learning, particularly in linking theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. This model demonstrates the potential of biodiversity-centered service learning in advancing environmental sustainability and aligns directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land).