Josefine Gyllensporre/ Contributing Writer
Cuban Sabicu, West Indian Mahogany, Canary Island Date Palm. The Biscayne Bay Campus offers up flora as diverse as its students.
The Biscayne Bay Campus offers an oasis for Florida wildlife in an urban environment. Several branches of offices and organizations at the campus are committed to projects that both ecologically preserve and improve the campus.
The University has a history of dedication to the environment. It was the first in Florida to receive the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA in 2010.
It earned the certification by meeting five standards: forming a Campus Tree Advisory Committee, creating a tree care plan and program for the campus, annual Arbor Day observance and service-learning projects.
Several facilities and offices at BBC are currently working on initiatives that incorporate both beautification and sustainability.
“There isn’t a specific beautification project; we just always do our best to improve the overall look and maintenance of the campus,” said Julissa Castellanos, director of Academic Support Services and Operations. “For example, we work together with External Relations, Student Government Association and Facilities Management to do these things. The pantherization of Academic 1 was done through SGA’s initiative to make the campus more FIU branded.”
The School of Environment, Arts and Society has been the main catalyst for maintaining several of the current initiatives. The mangrove restoration project and bay cleanup began in September 2009.
On its website, SEAS writes about the crucial role of mangroves in the South Florida landscape; many species depend on it for “food, shelter and as a nursery”.
They protect against the wind and water currents “which can wreak havoc in low-lying South Florida, particularly during a hurricane”.
So far, the program has been successful in Oleta River State Park.
In October 2011, faculty and students from FIU, Miami-Dade College and Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High planted around 1,500 red mangrove seedlings throughout Oleta Park.
Another environmental initiative at BBC is the Florida Friendly Landscaping Project. This has brought more native plants to the campus, allowing various species of great conservation need such as the Atala caterpillar to thrive.
The garden project has been incorporated in the First Year Experience course curriculum that all incoming freshmen are required to take.
The new students learn about the local ecosystems, the importance of Florida Friendly Landscaping, conservation and stewardship.
The students also maintain and plant native gardens on campus.
Castellanos said the biggest challenge standing in the way is funding and poor student involvement.
“There are little improvements here and there when we can secure funding because all of these things are pricey,” said Castellanos.
However, students seem not to know about the programs or volunteer opportunities.
“I noticed the decoration in AC 1 which I thought was pretty nice but I didn’t know there were so many other plans for the campus,” said Carlos Hernandez, junior and international relations major.
SEAS holds monthly Mangrove Work Days where students help observe and nurture mangrove seedlings. SGA also organizes bay cleanup days for faculty, students and staff.
“I’ve had several students who have just wanted to take the initiative and do it,” said Castellanos.
These events are accented by Baynanza which is a yearly massive cleanup event organized by Miami-Dade County that takes place on April 20 at several locations; BBC is one of them.
Student participation in these restoration programs is free and encouraged. If interested, contact Jennifer Grimm, environmental programs manager at SEAS.
“I know that [SEAS has] held many events on campus throughout the years and they try to get students involved,” said Castellanos.
The 7th Annual South Florida Tree Summit will be on March 27 at the Management and Advanced Research Center Pavilion on Modesto Maidique Campus.
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