Carleton University is committed to protecting and enhancing the ecosystems and green spaces that the university owns, manages, or impacts, in order to improve biodiversity and support a landscape that can respond to future climate change.

The Carleton Campus is fortunate to be located in a very natural and green setting, bordered by the Rideau Canal and Rideau River. Students have long identified it as one of the most remarkable parts of the Carleton experience.

Biodiversity on Campus

Campus Operations

Carleton University’s land use and management of the 62-hectare campus impacts the local ecosystem through the use of water, campus development and construction, landscaping applications (such as fertilizers in the summer or salt in the winter), and stormwater management. The university has a policy for integrated pest management and has not used chemical pesticides on the grounds for at least five years.

Biodiversity Assessment

In 2024, Carleton University conducted a comprehensive Biodiversity Assessment, establishing a baseline of the diverse species present on our campus. Through community involvement on the iNaturalist platform, over 540 species were identified, including two listed as at-risk in Ontario—the Barn Swallow and the Celandine-Poppy. This assessment plays a vital role in guiding future conservation efforts and measuring the impact of the university’s sustainability initiatives.

Key findings highlight the importance of Carleton’s green spaces, particularly along the Rideau River, as critical habitats for local wildlife. The assessment underscores the university’s ongoing commitment to fostering biodiversity and enhancing conservation outcomes as part of our sustainability goals.

Outdoor Space Master Plan

Carleton University’s Outdoor Space Master Plan (OSMP), completed in October 2020, provides a comprehensive vision for the future development and enhancement of the university’s outdoor spaces. Located on 153 acres between the Rideau River and Rideau Canal, Carleton is uniquely positioned to integrate natural landscapes into a sustainable and accessible campus environment.

The OSMP outlines key design principles aimed at fostering a unified network of outdoor spaces that promote sustainability, accessibility, and the well-being of the campus community. Key projects include upgrades to the Main Quad, the creation of the Campus Avenue Quad, and improvements to Alumni Park and the O-Train Station area. Additionally, the plan incorporates cultural narratives and sustainability goals, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity promotion.

With the vision of creating year-round, accessible spaces for students, staff, and visitors, the OSMP emphasizes the integration of Indigenous perspectives and sustainable landscape design.

Campus Master Plan

Carleton University has undergone significant changes since the adoption of the first campus master plan in 2010, including the construction of Richcraft Hall, Canal Building, and the new Health Sciences building. The purpose of the current campus master plan is to establish policies, parameters, and directions for the physical development of the campus, including green spaces.

Bird-Friendly Glazing

Carleton is committed to protecting and enhancing biodiversity on its campus. To prevent bird collisions, visual markers (decals) have been applied to the exterior surface of the glass on multiple buildings on campus. It is also now a standard in our design guidelines to incorporate bird-friendly glazing on new construction and major renovation projects involving the exterior of the building.

Current Buildings with Bird-Friendly Glazing

  • Engineering Design Centre (EDC) – extension on Mackenzie Building
  • Health Sciences Building
  • Nicol Building
  • Pigiarvik (ᐱᒋᐊᕐᕕᒃ)
  • Southam Hall

Carleton has also partnered with SafeWings Ottawa to report bird collisions and work towards campus-wide data and identifying key buildings for additional visual markers. If you observe a bird collision, you can report it through the SafeWings Ottawa website or email Sustainability Carleton with your concerns.

Bird-friendly glazing on Health Sciences, installed in 2018.

Bird-friendly glazing on Pigiarvik (ᐱᒋᐊᕐᕕᒃ), installed in 2023.

Nature Positive University

In 2022, Carleton joined other universities around the world in a pledge to become Nature Positive. Being a Nature Positive university means “restoring species and ecosystems that have been harmed by the impacts of a university and its activities and enhancing the university’s positive impacts on nature” (Becoming Nature Positive).

As part of our commitment to the Nature Positive Universities program, Carleton is working towards assessing a biodiversity baseline and setting specific, measurable targets towards enhancing biodiversity on campus and becoming Nature Positive. We will also report on our progress annually within our comprehensive sustainability reports, which can be found here.

For more information about the Nature Positive Universities program, click here.

iNaturalist Biodiversity Inventory

Do you want to help play a part in developing Carleton’s biodiversity inventory?
Join our iNaturalist project and submit your observations of species you find on campus.