Land, Water, and Biodiversity

"Yale is pursuing excellence in its operations, and is committed to becoming an environmentally sustainable institution for the twenty-first century."

—Richard C. Levin, President, Yale University, Earth Day Speech, April 22, 1999

Yale has a responsibility for its functioning in a wider natural system - from the waste it discharges, to the resources it uses, and to the species that co-inhabit the land. Developing a framework for understanding the interactions of plants, animals and humans in an urban setting will result in a healthier better managed community for both the University and New Haven.

Yale's central campus comprises courtyards, gardens, open spaces and streetscapes, many of which are intertwined with the layout of the surrounding city of New Haven. Yale's complex urban campus creates a unique setting unlike many of its peer institutions. Sharing public streets, neighborhoods and green spaces with the city of New Haven, this dynamic setting requires that the University approach campus sustainability in a local, integrated way.

Within the context of Yale’s commitment to sustainable development, the University now has an opportunity to create a strategy for managing biodiversity, land and water that focuses on urban ecology, operational practices, public health and the natural processes that are acting in and around the campus.  

  Value of Land, Water and Biodiversity at Yale

  Land

  Water

  Biodiversity

  Stormwater Management