Theme: Habitat Restoration & Native Landscaping

These projects focus on bettering the natural environments on or near campus, through native gardening/landscaping, education around habitat restoration, or other related projects that improve ecosystem health in or around campus. 

Basins of Relations

Project Description

This project focuses on capturing roof rain water for the Convent house within the Berkeley
Student Cooperative (BSC). Each winter, 236,000 gallons of roof rainwater exits the property
entering the Berkeley Marina. This two-day workshop will redirect rainwater into rain gardens
and tanks to support 1) groundwater recharge 2) water tank storage during drought and 3) install
a perennial food gardens to mitigate local climate extremes by providing:
1. Microclimate: vegetative cover mitigating extreme heat,
2. Food Security: mediterranean perennial...

The Pollinators of Campus Native Wildflower Gardens

Project Description

Our project aims to compare the presence and abundance of pollinator species at the native plant garden at mak-’amham (Cafe Ohlone) with other non-native gardens on the UC Berkeley campus. Two surveys will be conducted in March and April to capture species diversity, to promote sustainable gardening by showcasing how the native plant garden supports diverse pollinator populations, contributing to healthy ecosystems and food sovereignty. The project underscores the cultural and ecological significance of mak-’amham, supporting Ohlone identity and...

Healing Through Gardening

Project Description

Located at Lothlorien, one of the 17 Berkeley Student Cooperative houses, this project aims to foster healing connections between students and the land through a series of educational workshops and a habitat restoration project. This will be a collaborative project, involving the stakeholders (housemates) through every step of the process, emphasizing participatory design and knowledge sharing. The series of educational workshops will involve hands-on restoration, plant identification, medicinal plant uses, and creative archiving. Lothlorien houses 55 berkeley...

Oak Woodland Restoration Project

Project Description

The Oak Woodland Restoration Project at UC Berkeley’s Hastings Natural History Reservation aims to restore rare, threatened blue oak (Quercus douglasii) woodland habitat impacted by the October 2024 ...

Cal Habitat Restoration Student Leadership Training

Project Description

Program to train students to promote and lead volunteer habitat restoration events.

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Project Application

Project Poster

Reduction in Chemical Use at the UC Botanical Gardens

Project Description

Establish a compost tea brewing and application program as part of a pest management program.

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Project Application

Project Poster

Strawberry Creek Restoration Demonstration

Project Description

Continue habitat restoration efforts of Strawberry Creek.

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Project Application

Project Poster

Hives @ Haas

Project Description

We are working with campus Facilities (Theron Klos) and campus Risk (Morris Lever) to install a hive on the east side of the Student Services Building of the Haas campus. We are hoping that TGIF will help us upgrade to two hives. Additionally, we are asking for funds to build a pollinator garden to assure that the bees and other insects have access to food. Towards that, we would use these funds in part for tools to build and maintain the garden. Finally, our partner on this project, Bee Campus USA, would like to purchase educational books to use in their...

Clark Kerr Restoration Project

Project Description

The goal of this project is to restore a small habitat of the Clark Kerr campus, replacing invasive non-native species with California native plants that support pollinators, and increasing the safety of the adjacent walkway.

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Project Application

Project Poster (coming soon!)

SURG Redwood Restoration

Project Description

The overall goals of the project are to research Bay Area redwoods using Geospatial information systems and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. This research will focus on analyzing redwood environmental growth factors and forest management practices in order to determine the best locations for future redwood growth in the Bay Area. However, this research project is more than just its overall goals, it is also meant to be an introductory research experience for 14 students, some of which have not yet had the opportunity to take part in Berkeley research....