Creating a Grove to Restore Biodiversity at the University of New Haven's Campus

Date of Submission

5-4-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Biology and Environmental Sciences

Advisor

Jean-Paul Simjouw, Ph.D.

Keywords

Native plants, Biodiversity, Adaptation and Mitigation, Climate Change, Ecosystem Services, Urban Campus

MeSH

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ecosystem Services

LCSH

Native plant gardens, Biodiversity conservation, Climate change mitigation, Urban Gardens

Abstract

The concept of establishing a grove of beneficial and native plants on the University of New Haven's campus will be explored and evaluated to determine if that will enhance and build a biodiverse ecosystem community. Adaptation and mitigation strategies have been implemented more frequently in response to biodiversity decline due to the increased awareness and inspiration to participate in several efforts at the state, national, and global levels. However, over the years, there has only been a minor amount of research and effort put into comprehensive strategies and solutions to combat and reduce the prolonging effects of climate change. This research will seek to address the critical challenges that are currently being faced, unexpected consequences, and current models for establishing gardens and groves. Some other considerations include the right plant, right place concept, and ways groves could become ecosystem services for rural and urban green spaces. Comparisons will be made with similar plans and strategies that are currently being implemented in previous case studies within the past ten years. Findings from this study will contribute to the concept of creating these groves and how they can provide various benefits, such as increased biodiversity, to urban campuses such as the University of New Haven, providing insight into solutions that can grow and develop into biodiversity communities to eventually lessen the effects of climate change.

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