The Role of Green Areas in University
Campuses: Contribution to SDG 4
and SDG 15
Luciana Londero Brandli, Amanda Lange Salvia, Vanessa Tibola da Rocha,
Janaina Mazutti and Giovana Reginatto
Abstract Considering the importance of green areas for sustainability, universities
have great potential to contribute to it while improving the use of green spaces in
their campuses. By doing so, universities are also contributing to the Sustainable
Development Goals, especially SDG 15, which seeks the protection of forests and
biodiversity and their sustainable management, and SDG 4, which aims to ensure
qualitative education, by promoting a culture of environmental awareness in students.
Thus, this paper aims to highlight the role which green areas in university campuses
play in the promotion and integration of SDGs 4 and 15, based on a case study carried
out at the University of Passo Fundo (UPF), located in South of Brazil. UPF stands
out among other universities in the region due to its great availability of green areas,
but the academic community needs to make sustainable use of these spaces. The
study evaluated the perception of the university community regarding green areas,
to analyse how UPF explores these environments and to study strategies to enhance
its use. The results showed that the university has been exploring its green areas by
promoting events in favour of the local and academic community, however, more
actions could be applied to take advantage of the campus’ ecological potential. The
case study confirmed how the green areas in university campuses can contribute to
and interact with the SDGs, especially through management actions.
Keywords Sustainable development goals · University campus · Education ·
Green areas
L. L. Brandli (B) · A. L. Salvia · V. T. da Rocha · J. Mazutti · G. Reginatto
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
e-mail: brandli@upf.br
A. L. Salvia
e-mail: amandasalvia@gmail.com
V. T. da Rocha
e-mail: vanessat.rocha.arq@gmail.com
J. Mazutti
e-mail: janainamazutti@gmail.com
G. Reginatto
e-mail: gioreginato@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_4
47
Campuses: Contribution to SDG 4
and SDG 15
Luciana Londero Brandli, Amanda Lange Salvia, Vanessa Tibola da Rocha,
Janaina Mazutti and Giovana Reginatto
Abstract Considering the importance of green areas for sustainability, universities
have great potential to contribute to it while improving the use of green spaces in
their campuses. By doing so, universities are also contributing to the Sustainable
Development Goals, especially SDG 15, which seeks the protection of forests and
biodiversity and their sustainable management, and SDG 4, which aims to ensure
qualitative education, by promoting a culture of environmental awareness in students.
Thus, this paper aims to highlight the role which green areas in university campuses
play in the promotion and integration of SDGs 4 and 15, based on a case study carried
out at the University of Passo Fundo (UPF), located in South of Brazil. UPF stands
out among other universities in the region due to its great availability of green areas,
but the academic community needs to make sustainable use of these spaces. The
study evaluated the perception of the university community regarding green areas,
to analyse how UPF explores these environments and to study strategies to enhance
its use. The results showed that the university has been exploring its green areas by
promoting events in favour of the local and academic community, however, more
actions could be applied to take advantage of the campus’ ecological potential. The
case study confirmed how the green areas in university campuses can contribute to
and interact with the SDGs, especially through management actions.
Keywords Sustainable development goals · University campus · Education ·
Green areas
L. L. Brandli (B) · A. L. Salvia · V. T. da Rocha · J. Mazutti · G. Reginatto
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
e-mail: brandli@upf.br
A. L. Salvia
e-mail: amandasalvia@gmail.com
V. T. da Rocha
e-mail: vanessat.rocha.arq@gmail.com
J. Mazutti
e-mail: janainamazutti@gmail.com
G. Reginatto
e-mail: gioreginato@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_4
47