SDG 15: Life on Land
Learn more about UN SDG 15 and take action
Dalhousie sits on the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people and recognizes the interconnectedness of all of our relationships — to the environment and to each other — for generations to come.
At 32-hectares in area, the three Halifax campuses are home to a mixture of native plant species representing some 115 species of woody plants, trees, and shrubs. Despite the pressures of a dense urban environment, the campus natural environment boasts over 1000 trees and 1000 shrubs, green roofs, rain gardens, and one of the oldest trees in Halifax.
The Agriculture Campus is located in an area with a rich history of agricultural production and has many hectares of open space punctuated by gardens, naturalized areas, recreation areas, and over 100 species of plants.
High-impact research
Building a better world with the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples
The project, titled Ărramăt will empower Indigenous Peoples to address issues such as food security, human-wildlife management, and the decolonization of science. Led by Dr. Pictou, Dalhousie’s Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Governance, Ărramăt will involve more than 150 Indigenous organizations, universities, and other partners. Activities will occur in 70 ecosystems around the world that are spiritually, culturally, and economically important to Indigenous Peoples.
Read more in Dal News
Dalhousie opens Centre for Sustainable Soil Management on Agricultural Campus
The sustainable management of soil is critical to maintaining productivity and ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition.
Read more in Dal News
How Does Your Garden Grow? A new Dal study tracks Nova Scotian gardening habits one pot and plot at a time.
The study, “Home Food Gardening in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Food Security Considerations,” uses geographic information systems (GIS) technology and crowdsourcing to collect data on home gardening in Nova Scotia. The research team wants to find out the scope and extent to which Nova Scotians have turned to home food production since the onset of the pandemic, and to examine the impact these activities have on food security in the province.
Read more in DAL Magazine
Exceptional student experience
How a group of Dal educators has transformed the outdoors into a classroom
A group of educators from across Dal has created a unique approach to helping students appreciate the richness of nature close at hand through an annual event known as Dal Biodiversity Day.
Read more in Dal News
Start from the ground up
Why and how do volcanoes erupt? Where do we look for oil and reliable water supplies? Why is our climate is changing? The disciplines of Earth Sciences play a crucial role in answering questions such as these and developing insight into the Earth's evolution, composition, processes and future.
Grad profile: A steward of the land
"The Landscape Architecture program at Dalhousie includes fascinating courses such as Urban Tree Management, Environmental Studies, Environmental Processes and Ecohydrology,” explained Victoria. “These courses have emphasized the importance of our natural environment and the necessity to work and learn from this beautiful life sustaining ecosystem."
Read more in Dal News
College Royal
Over 100 students participate in the annual College Royal event which demonstrates a dedication to maintaining the culture of animal-husbandry and health, while improving public awareness of agricultural issues. The event has been a part of the campus culture since 1935.
Read more in Faculty of Agriculture news
Civic university with global impact
Bridge Into Agriculture: A Program for African Nova Scotians
Hosted by the Extended Learning Department of the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, Bridget Into Agriculture will help bridge the gap between African Nova Scotian communities and agriculture through a 22-week online course that includes growing a small vegetable garden.
Read more in Faculty of Agriculture news
Lessons from the land: Dal's SuperNOVA teams up with Indigenous educational group for first land‑based STEM camp
The program is free of charge and offers students unique learning opportunities across a rich landscape. From studying fish life cycles along traditional Mi’kmaw waterways to applying engineering concepts while building a sweat lodge, activities will use nature as a guide, recognizing the inherent connection that Indigenous peoples have always had with the land.
Read more in Dal News
Helping nourish garden and community
The Garden Box was created by the Faculty of Agriculture to provide freely accessible, scientifically credible, gardening information. The compilation of factsheets and workshop guides are made available to the public on our website, free of charge.
Exhibition at Dalhousie Art Gallery: Plant Kingdom
Plant Kingdom emerged as a means to reflect on the ways that life on our planet is dependent upon, enriched by, and indebted to plants. The elements of this exhibition, both in the Gallery and offsite, present and engage with the ways in which plants are integral to the cultivation and creation of material culture, and how this represents the larger value of plants to our planet.
Read more in Today@Dal
Foundation for inclusion and distinction
Setting the standard for Dalhousie's natural environment
To guide the management of campus landscapes, Dalhousie has approved a Natural Environment Guideline Document [PDF - 3.6MB] and a Natural Environment Plan [PDF - 23.2 MB] that outline standards for the management of the campus natural environment, including a diameter tree replacement policy, approved plant lists, and standards for stormwater management.
Campus Biodiversity Week
The week aims to teach the campus community about the importance of biodiversity with tours and plantings for staff, students, and faculty to attend. The Campus Garden Tour hosted by the Dalhousie gardeners will highlight the various plantings on campus and their sustainable approach to gardening.
Read more in Today@Dal
Planting project aims to restore biodiversity in a charming corner of campus
A wooded area tucked behind Shirreff Hall residence on Studley Campus is the site of an exciting new project that promises to bring greater biodiversity back to this charming corner of campus. Samantha Ceci, a Master of Resource and Environmental Management student, teamed up with Dal’s Office of Sustainability and Facilities Management to create a 'hugelkultur bed.’ It’s the second new biodiversity initiative introduced on Studley Campus this year. An Indigenous pollinator garden opened nearby on the north side of the Henry Hicks Building, a partnership between the Dalhousie Art Gallery and members of Dal's Indigenous Advisory Council.
Read more in Dal News