United Nations Sustainable Development
Goal 15: Life on land
Events about sustainable use of land. Support or organise events aimed to promote conservation and sustainable utilisation of the land, including forests and wild land.
UniSC supports and organises events to promote conservation and sustainable utilization of land, including forests (bush) and wildlands. This is crucial for preserving biodiversity and ensuring the health of our ecosystems on campus and supporting the community with knowledge and expertise in this area.
The events at UniSC include an annual Sustainability week, educational workshops, community clean-up drives, tree planting activities, and awareness campaigns. By engaging local communities and stakeholders, these initiatives foster a sense of responsibility and collective action towards protecting natural resources. Additionally, such events can highlight the importance of sustainable practices, encouraging individuals and organisations to adopt methods that minimize environmental impact and promote long-term ecological balance.
2023 Sustainability week included the following specific activities on conservation and sustainable utilisation of the land:
- Anastasia Klose exhibition “For thy sake I in love am grown"
- This exhibition of new drawings, video and performance is a response to Klose’s “random, exhausting and depressing adventures in conservation” and the artist’s growing awareness of diminishing biodiversity in Queensland and imminent threats to its unique landscapes.
- Community gardens networking
- An opportunity for community gardens around the Sunshine Coast, and individuals who support them, to get together and network. The theme is around financial sustainability.
- Screening of “More than a Fish Kill”
- More Than a Fish Kill, 2023, co-produced by the National Museum of Australia, Cad Factory, and Otis Filley Studios explores the aftermath of the 2019 and 2023 fish kills along the Barka/Baaka (Darling River). It is a story of how artists, First Nations custodians, fishery managers and students came together to turn ecological disasters into catalysts for connection and revival.
The screening was open to all staff, students and community members and provided opportunities for networking, panel discussion, question time and a twilight walk to the UniSC water battery for nature sounds and projections.
- More Than a Fish Kill, 2023, co-produced by the National Museum of Australia, Cad Factory, and Otis Filley Studios explores the aftermath of the 2019 and 2023 fish kills along the Barka/Baaka (Darling River). It is a story of how artists, First Nations custodians, fishery managers and students came together to turn ecological disasters into catalysts for connection and revival.
- Garden planting
- The planting session was open to all staff, students and community members. Come along, get your hands a little dirty and leave your mark on UniSC! Help us improve our garden by planting some native flora. No need to bring tools as everything will be supplied. We'll even get the soil nice and loose so no need to sweat.
UniSC is actively involved in community events that promote conservation and sustainable utilisation of land. Some examples include:
- Australian Citizen Science Association Conference –UniSC hosted the event on campus on 21-23 November 2023. UniSC was heavily involved as a sponsor, host event and had staff and students presenting and on the conference organising committee. The conference included the Great Southern BioBlitz 2023. The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist.
Summary
UniSC is pleased to be involved in organising events that promote conservation and sustainable land use which fosters community engagement, raises awareness, and encourages practices that protect and sustain natural resources.