15.3.5
Collaboration for Shared Land Ecosystems
1. Purpose
This policy establishes the framework for the University of Thessaly’s collaboration with local communities, municipalities, and public agencies in maintaining, restoring, and managing shared land ecosystems. The purpose is to promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable land use, and ecological restoration through joint planning, knowledge exchange, and coordinated actions that strengthen the University’s environmental and social responsibility.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
– All University lands that border, intersect, or influence municipal, agricultural, or protected ecosystems.
– Partnerships with local authorities, community organizations, NGOs, and environmental agencies.
– Educational, research, and community projects focused on shared environmental management.
– Public engagement and outreach programmes promoting sustainable stewardship of shared land ecosystems.
It covers activities that directly or indirectly affect terrestrial habitats, forests, agricultural areas, and other land-based ecosystems associated with University campuses.
3. Definitions
– Shared land ecosystems: Terrestrial environments jointly influenced or managed by the University and external stakeholders, including local communities and municipalities.
– Community collaboration: Structured cooperation between the University and local entities for mutual environmental and educational benefit.
– Ecosystem restoration: Process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded or destroyed.
– Stakeholder engagement: The involvement of parties affected by or contributing to ecosystem management efforts.
4. Policy Statement
The University of Thessaly recognizes that sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation require collaboration beyond institutional boundaries. Therefore, the University will:
1. Establish partnerships with local and regional stakeholders for the joint management of shared land ecosystems.
2. Engage in co-designed projects for ecosystem restoration, conservation, and education.
3. Share research expertise, data, and resources to support sustainable land practices.
4. Organize training sessions, public lectures, and workshops on land stewardship and ecosystem services.
5. Promote joint monitoring programmes to assess ecological health and biodiversity.
6. Include community partners in planning and evaluation of sustainability projects.
7. Ensure transparency, inclusivity, and mutual benefit in all collaborative environmental initiatives.
5. Implementation Responsibilities
The Sustainability Committee, in coordination with the Departments a) Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Regional Development Engineering, b) Environmental, c) Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design, d) Biochemistry and Biotechnology, e) Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics , f) Veterinary Medicine and g) School of Agricultural Sciences of Environmental Engineering and the Directorate of Regional Cooperation and Outreach, shall oversee policy implementation. Responsibilities include:
– Identifying shared ecosystems adjacent to or influenced by University operations.
– Mapping stakeholder relationships and establishing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
– Developing collaborative action plans for ecosystem restoration and protection.
– Integrating joint initiatives into the University’s research and teaching programmes.
– Monitoring the outcomes and community impact of collaborative activities.
– Reporting progress annually to the University Senate and including it in sustainability submissions.
6. Monitoring and Reporting
The Sustainability Committee shall maintain a Register of Collaborative Ecosystem Projects detailing:
– Partner organizations and project objectives.
– Ecosystem types and locations.
– Conservation outcomes and biodiversity indicators.
– Community engagement metrics (participants, events, outcomes).
An Annual Collaboration Report will be submitted to the Senate and included in the University Sustainability Report and THE Impact Ranking SDG 15 & SDG 17 documentation.
7. Review and Amendment
This policy shall be reviewed every three (3) years or earlier if significant new partnerships, environmental challenges, or policy updates arise. Revisions will be proposed by the Sustainability Committee and approved by the Governing Council.
8. References and Compliance Frameworks
– Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) – ESG Standards
– UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 15 & SDG 17)
– EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030
– Greek Law 1650/1986 on Environmental Protection
– EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)
– Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)