Throughout 2025, Sakarya University continued its long-term efforts to maintain and enhance terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity within and around its campuses. Its approach combines campus biodiversity inventories, wildlife monitoring, habitat management, plant propagation and cooperation in ecological conservation initiatives. These established programmes provide a sustained framework for protecting natural habitats and maintaining ecological diversity.
The flora and fauna of Esentepe Campus have been systematically recorded and documented for conservation, research and educational purposes. The Esentepe Campus Plant Inventory and Labelling Project identifies 115 plant species belonging to 73 genera and 39 families, with 53% native to Türkiye. Representative native species include Quercus cerris, Quercus robur and Quercus frainetto, while the planted landscape also includes Pinus pinea and Cupressus sempervirens. This inventory offers a consistent reference for habitat management and biodiversity awareness.
The campus plant inventory has also been translated into an accessible digital resource through QR-coded species labels and an online botanical catalogue. Students, staff and visitors can identify campus plants and access information on their characteristics and distribution. These resources support the continued use of the campus as a living environment for ecological observation and education.
Wildlife monitoring using camera traps documents fauna in the forested parts of the campus. Records include roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), golden jackal (Canis aureus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and badger (Meles meles). Together with the flora and fauna catalogues, these observations contribute to understanding species presence and the ecological value of green areas across the campus.
Figure 1. Camera-trap records documenting wildlife presence in the forested areas of Esentepe Campus.
Figure 2. Flora and fauna catalogues supporting the documentation and communication of campus biodiversity.
Vegetated spaces cover much of Esentepe Campus, supporting habitat continuity and helping to reduce soil erosion risks. The Department of Construction and Technical Works maintains planted and wooded areas through landscape management, selective pruning and seasonal care. These recurring practices protect plant health, maintain usable green space and contribute to ecological stability within the campus environment.
The university’s Plant Tissue Culture Research and Production Laboratory provides additional capacity for sustainable plant propagation through controlled cultivation techniques. Its research and production activities support the cultivation of healthy plant material and strengthen the university’s applied knowledge of plant biotechnology. This institutional capacity is relevant to plant conservation, habitat enhancement and the sustainable development of green areas.
Figure 3. Plant propagation and tissue-culture activities supporting sustainable plant production and biodiversity-related expertise.
Sakarya University’s established research portfolio includes cooperation with public authorities and environmental institutions on terrestrial ecosystem protection. Examples include projects on identifying ecological corridors for Türkiye’s green vascular plants, ecological assessments of existing and potential natural sites in Erzurum, Karabük, Samsun and Trabzon. These collaborations connect university expertise with the conservation and management of ecologically significant landscapes and protected areas.
Campus biodiversity management also benefits from the active participation of students and local stakeholders in environmental stewardship. Planting and landscape initiatives help diversify green areas, while the university’s digital plant-identification resources encourage wider participation in recognising and valuing campus biodiversity. The continued availability of the campus botanical catalogue provides a public-facing resource for this purpose.
Figure 4. QR-coded plant identification and digital species information supporting long-term biodiversity awareness on campus.
Through biodiversity inventories, wildlife observation, routine habitat maintenance, plant propagation, public access to botanical information and cooperation on ecological conservation, Sakarya University sustains an integrated approach to terrestrial ecosystem protection. These long-term activities continued to underpin the university’s contributions during 2025 and support SDG 15: Life on Land through the maintenance, understanding and enhancement of local biodiversity.
