How to get the most out of OSU green spaces – OSU Today

Report on Oregon State University’s Sustainable Campus Landscaping Initiatives

Fostering Environmental Stewardship through Campus Engagement

Oregon State University’s (OSU) landscape management strategy is founded on the principle that encouraging public interaction with natural environments cultivates a greater appreciation for nature and promotes environmental stewardship. This philosophy directly supports the aims of SDG 15 (Life on Land) by protecting and promoting terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. The university actively encourages students, staff, and the public to utilize its outdoor spaces, viewing the campus as a living laboratory and recreational hub. This approach also contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by providing accessible green spaces that enhance mental and physical health through active engagement with nature.

Policies Supporting Responsible Use and Experiential Learning

OSU has implemented several policies designed to facilitate public interaction with campus landscapes while ensuring their long-term health and sustainability. These measures align with goals for quality education, sustainable communities, and responsible consumption.

1. Permissive Access and Curiosity-Driven Exploration: The university endorses a philosophy of “yes” to public interaction with campus flora, permitting activities such as walking on lawns and respectfully exploring planted areas. This encourages curiosity and informal learning, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by turning the campus itself into an educational resource.
2. Adaptive Infrastructure and Responsive Design: In an approach that supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), landscape staff monitor pedestrian traffic. “Social trails,” or unofficial paths created by foot traffic, are often formalized into permanent walkways, demonstrating a responsive approach to community needs and movement patterns.
3. Promotion of Safe and Sustainable Recreation: The use of hammocks and slack lines is encouraged, provided that certified bark-protecting straps are used to prevent damage to trees. This policy promotes responsible recreational practices in line with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
4. Dedicated Outdoor Educational Facilities: The campus features designated outdoor classrooms, such as the one between the College of Pharmacy and Furman Hall, equipped with seating and electricity. These spaces formalize the integration of the natural environment into the curriculum, directly advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Advancing Food Security and Sustainable Production

OSU’s campus landscape plays a direct role in addressing food security and promoting sustainable food systems, contributing significantly to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The university has established several areas with edible plants accessible to the community.

• University Housing and Dining Services Food Forest: Located behind Callahan Hall, this area features pear, fig, mulberry, and apple trees available for public sampling. It also includes designated plants grown specifically for the Basic Needs Center, directly supporting vulnerable community members.
• Student Experience Center Food Forest: A smaller edible landscape at the southeast corner of the building offers raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, and persimmons.
• Additional Edible Plantings: Blueberry bushes are also available near the Linus Pauling Science Center and the campus child care center.
• Sustainable Harvesting Practices: In line with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), landscaping staff do not apply harmful chemicals to any edible plants. Furthermore, the university manages a valuable collection of female ginkgo trees, contracting with companies to harvest the seeds for use in East Asian cuisine, demonstrating a unique contribution to sustainable food sourcing.

Cultivating an Inclusive and Healthy Community Hub

The OSU campus is managed as an open and inclusive public resource, extending beyond its student and employee populations to serve the broader Corvallis community. This commitment supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by providing universal access to safe, green public spaces and fosters social inclusion as outlined in SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The university welcomes public activities such as picnics, yard games, and metal detecting. Landscape management practices, such as scheduling irrigation for evening hours, are designed to maximize public enjoyment and well-being, further contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Designated Areas for Well-being and Contemplation

Specific locations on campus are recognized for their unique ability to provide quiet, contemplative experiences, which are vital for mental and emotional health as prioritized in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). These sites allow individuals to connect with nature even within a bustling campus environment.

• The Sequoia Grove: Located in the Memorial Union Quad, this grove of three large sequoias offers a secluded, meditative space in the center of campus activity.
• Oak Creek Covered Bridge: The area under the bridge on the west side of campus provides a tranquil nook for reflection.
• People’s Park: The rhododendron-filled lawn situated behind Gilkey Hall is another favored spot for quiet enjoyment of nature.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The article on Oregon State University’s campus landscape and its use highlights issues and initiatives that connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals focus on creating sustainable, healthy, and inclusive environments.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article discusses the presence of edible landscapes on campus, directly contributing to food availability. It mentions a food forest with various fruit trees and notes that some produce is specifically grown for the Basic Needs Center, addressing food security for vulnerable members of the community.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  By encouraging activities like walking, playing games (Frisbees), and relaxing in nature (napping in hammocks, finding quiet spots), the university promotes both physical and mental well-being. The landscape manager’s desire to see people enjoying the outdoors supports the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article highlights educational opportunities related to the environment. It mentions an “outdoor classroom” designed for instruction and the landscape manager’s philosophy that engaging with nature leads to greater appreciation and pro-environmental behavior (“they’ll vote for nature more”), which is a core principle of education for sustainable development.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  A central theme is making green public spaces accessible and inclusive. The article emphasizes that the campus is “open to the public, not just OSU students and employees,” and that landscaping efforts are designed to accommodate and encourage public use of lawns, paths, and groves.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article details efforts to protect and sustainably manage terrestrial ecosystems on campus. This includes preserving unique trees like sequoias and female ginkgos, encouraging respectful interaction with vegetation (e.g., using bark-protecting straps), and maintaining biodiversity through features like the Moreland Arboretum and various food forests.

Specific Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

   This target is directly addressed by the university’s policy of keeping the campus open to the public for activities like picnics, games, and metal detecting. The landscape manager’s statement, “‘Yes’ is the answer to most of the questions,” regarding public use of the space, reinforces this commitment to universal access.

2. Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.

   The article points to this target by describing the campus food forests. Specifically, it states that anyone can sample from many of the trees and that certain plants, like zucchini, “are grown specifically for the Basic Needs Center,” directly linking the campus landscape to providing food for those in need.

3. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats [and] halt the loss of biodiversity.

   This target is reflected in the careful management of the campus’s plant life. The article mentions the protection of unique species, such as the “row of female ginkgo trees by Wiegand Hall,” which are rare in the U.S. nursery industry, and the encouragement of using “certified bark-protecting straps to avoid damaging the tree trunks.”

4. Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.

   The provision of an “outdoor classroom between the College of Pharmacy and Furman Hall” is a concrete example of infrastructure supporting this target. Furthermore, the philosophy of encouraging curiosity and interaction with nature (“if people engage in nature, they’ll like nature more”) is aimed at fostering an appreciation for and a lifestyle that supports sustainability.

5. Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being.

   The article implies this target by describing spaces designed for mental respite. The landscape manager highlights a grove where one can be “quiet and meditative but you can hear everything that’s going on,” offering a place for stress reduction and mental well-being amidst a busy campus.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several indicators that could be used to measure progress toward the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 11.7:

  An implied indicator is the area of green space (lawns, groves, parks) explicitly made available for public use. The article confirms the campus is open to the public and describes numerous such spaces, like the Memorial Union Quad and People’s Park.

• Indicator for Target 2.1:

  A direct indicator is the presence and variety of edible plants available for public harvesting. The article lists specific plants like “pear, fig, mulberry and apple trees” and berries. Another indicator is the amount of produce designated for and delivered to the Basic Needs Center.

• Indicator for Target 15.5:

  A key indicator is the implementation of policies to protect flora, such as the rule requiring “bark-protecting straps” for hammocks. The number of unique or rare species being conserved, like the female ginkgo trees, also serves as a measure of progress in halting biodiversity loss.

• Indicator for Target 4.7:

  A tangible indicator is the existence of dedicated infrastructure for environmental education, such as the “outdoor classroom.” The number of people interacting with nature, as observed by staff (“if they’re curious enough to go look, they’re careful enough”), could serve as a qualitative indicator of engagement.

• Indicator for Target 3.4:

  An observable indicator is the number of people using campus green spaces for recreational and relaxation activities. The landscape manager’s comments about seeing “two people talking to each other” or people playing games and having picnics suggest that the use of these spaces for social and mental well-being is a valued outcome.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: today.oregonstate.edu