Let’s talk Biodiversity loss: what is it and how is it affecting our campus?

Lucy Bysouth on 1 March 2025

While walking around campus, I am sure you will have come across one of the many cute creatures that inhabit the outdoor spaces of our university. It may be the ducks in the Roger Stevens pond that catch your attention on the way to lectures, the hedgehogs or most likely the adored bunnies that roam around the green. These different animals make up the essential biodiversity that keeps not only our campus ecosystems balanced but the world’s. Notwithstanding the effects of climate change however, this biodiversity is at risk. 

The World Wildlife Organisation defines biodiversity as all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area, not just animals but also plants and fungi. These organisms then work together within our ecosystems to maintain and support all forms of life, essentially everything that we need ranging across food, water, medicine and clean air. Our animals are such a crucial part to keeping us as a species happy and healthy as well as the planet we live on. But still, the ever-growing climate crisis is violently reducing wildlife populations in the United Kingdom. The United Nations has established the United Kingdom in recent years as having one of the worst biodiversity loss problems in the whole of the western world; only having roughly half of its biodiversity left. This figure is far below a global average of 75%, which still is not deemed a ‘safe limit’, no country should be exceeding the 90% break line. Not only is this a cause for concern for the animals whose habitats and populations are being destroyed but also for our society who are dependent on them for regulatory ecological functioning. 

In order to spread awareness and begin to combat biodiversity loss, we must first establish its causes. The UK Parliament’s scientific advisors have concluded that the factors of biodiversity loss in order of importance are as such: changes in land and sea use, climate change, pollution, direct exploitation of natural resources and the impact of invasive species. These issues might seem daunting if you are just one person trying to make a difference, but by supporting biodiversity through institutions such as your university, one can help create a striking difference to the animals living on your campus. 

At Leeds university the three main species impacted by biodiversity loss are the bees, hedgehogs and rabbits. But the growing climate change and atypical weather dynamics are severely impacting our creatures and the way they support our university ecosystem. Taking the afamed campus bunnies for example, who have proved popular in the social sphere as many readers here are also likely followers of @Leedscampusrabbits but are also providing critical acts of grazing and burrowing on campus, nurturing the plant life and creating clean air. Their existence in our green spaces will be forever important to nature’s balance and their habitats must be preserved.

Whilst news of this may render many readers into a state of panic, Leeds students can take comfort in knowing that the University of Leeds ranks very highly in the country for supporting its biodiversity, being placed in the ‘Platinum Tier’ category for their policies, funding for wildlife foundations and ongoing biodiversity activities by the Ark Wildlife organisation. The university strives to nurture the varying species living on the grounds. Most notably, working with the hedgehog preservation society, to protect and track them as they roam. 

While the university works to improve the decline of biodiversity in Leeds, individual efforts are also needed. This can be achieved through multiple avenues such as supporting the universities local wildlife policies, taking part in local litter picks or even just educating yourself online, every effort matters to save the different animals on campus. Don’t hesitate to give our green spaces that extra bit of care, especially when the creatures that live there provide us with so much.

Words by Lucy Bysouth

Valencia Floods: The cost of climate change denialism

Lucy Bysouth on 3 February 2025

Climate change denialism kills… and governments still aren’t listening. The end of October held Spain’s deadliest flash flood, killing hundreds of people particularly within the Valencia region. Scientists have attributed these ‘Monster’ floods once again to man-made climate change. 

Man-made climate change is increasingly talked about with its damaging effects becoming inevitable. While this extreme weather remains unchanged, so does the nation’s preparation for it. Climate change denialism is a stance taken too often by those in power resulting in a lack of funding and focus on defending against this. The recent floods in Valencia are a prime example of the effects it has on the everyday citizen. 

The World Weather Attribution has declared that climate change directly impacted the amount of rain that the clouds carried, pushing it up by 7% for every degree of warming. They have linked this directly to the causes of the Spanish flash floods and their ensuing devastation. This, however, is not a new revelation.

Researchers across the globe have been continuing to expose the life-threatening effects climate change is beginning to create. Their efforts have only increased after the devastating results of storm Helene which tore its way through the U.S only weeks before. We continue to see firsthand the destruction of everyday life as a result of man-made climate change while those in power fail both to aid the climate crisis and prepare the public for what that brings. So, what did the Spanish government do to fail their citizens in the growing climate crisis?

One of the Spanish government’s most crucial errors was the lack of communication with the general public from the very beginning. After over eight hours of continued rainfall, a flood was clearly imminent, however, it was not until houses were knee deep in mud and cars floating down the street that a message alert regarding ‘possible flooding’ was issued. Citizens claimed they were left completely blindsided by the flooding and had no opportunity to prepare or evacuate. 

Those affected have been left divided as to where the blame should fall. Was this a lack of preparedness on the government’s behalf or a denial of impending danger? This need for communication was strengthened through the aid, or lack thereof, given post flood. Those in poverty-stricken areas were left without help or any form of alert for days, knowing their loved ones could be lost and buried under the rubble the rain left behind. Both the community and those following along through the media are looking to the authoritie’s lack of focus on aid in the following days that cost valuable lives. 

The underfunding and lack of prioritisation of water infrastructure and flood defences increased the loss of life in the event of the floods significantly. Throughout the past 20 years there have been several plans drawn to aid defence against extreme weather. Almost 18 years prior, plans for flood works were prepared to be installed at the Poyo ravine. These exact plans however expired in 2017 as ‘no work had been initiated’. If it had been enacted, the damage caused to the surrounding areas would have been considerably minimised. 

Climate change evidently escalated the magnitude of such a disaster, rainfall like this has not been seen since the 1950s. Nevertheless, it appears that the errors of the government who funded poor infrastructure and allowed people to settle in these high-risk areas massively contributed to the traumatic death toll.

The citizens of Spain have come together in protest against the failure of the government, claiming the blood to be on their hands. The authorities accept their role in the flash flooding and discussions are in place on how to handle future events such as these, countries like Germany are also taking note from the failures of Spain. The country aims to make improvements for the future but the climate change denialism which grasps countries across the world was undoubtedly an overarching contributor to the 2024 Valencian floods. 

Words by Lucy Bysouth

Student-Approved Autumn Recipes

Lucy Bysouth on 9 November 2024

Lucy Bysouth shares her best budget-friendly recipes to make the most of those pantry staples and warm up as the chilly winter approaches. These comforting dishes are packed with nutrients and perfect for batch cooking!