Open Collections

Abstract

Food systems encompass plant biodiversity at various scales, and this biodiversity and associated knowledge of the various plant species is crucial to both reduce food systems emissions and strengthen food system resilience in the face of climate change (Mijatović et al., 2013). UBC’s food system accounts for over 29,000 tons of CO2 – over 20% of UBC’s overall emissions (UNA, 2022). To ensure that better food system practices align with UBC’s target, Vockeroth (2025) suggested UBC must achieve a 50% reduction in food systems emissions by 2030. To meet this goal, it is essential to find ways to foster biodiversity, build climate-resilient practices, and enhance knowledge about growing food on campus, and campus community gardens are a perfect place to start. The purpose of our project is to address issues the UBC community faces relating to food system resilience and sustainable action through the advancement of knowledge pertaining to plant biodiversity and climate resilience in their community gardens. This is harmonious with the UBC ‘Campus Vision 2050 (UBC, 2024)’ goals in creating a network of ‘open spaces such as public green spaces, greenways, green edges, courtyards, parks, forested and natural areas, and community gardens to enhance Musqueam presence, support health and wellbeing and help create resilient natural systems (Plan Use, 2025)’. This vision aims to enhance accessibility, adaptability, placemaking, biodiversity, and strengthen connectivity throughout UBC. The goals of the project are the dissemination of knowledge regarding plant biodiversity and climate resilience, as well as the facilitation of networking between campus community gardens. In accordance with our goals, the project’s main objectives are to update the inventory of plant biodiversity and climate resilience in UBC community gardens, and update community garden profiles for better information access. Through incorporating Community-Based Action Research (CBAR) methodology into our research, we aim to ensure our work is completed with the community and for the community. In accordance with CBAR, our team will be approaching the project objectives through three main methods. First, to collect our secondary data, we conducted a literature review of previous student work through SEEDS, the UBC Community Data Hub, and the UNA. Through this, we gained a greater understanding of the current baseline of biodiversity and climate resilience of community gardens. For our primary research we conducted an inventory assessment, identifying gardens across campus and logging important information and plant species grown. Our second method to collect primary data was through surveying gardeners and community garden representatives to discover more information regarding the biodiversity of the gardens, gardener satisfaction and to discover climate adaptation techniques used by gardeners. From our data collection, we developed two main deliverables. First, we created an updated 2025 UBC Community Garden Baseline that included updated locations, photos, contact information, and lists of both food and non-food species found at each garden, building off the previous food plant biodiversity baseline developed by Ng et al. Second, we developed an updated 2025 Climate-Ready Plant List that included all food plants, non-food plants, and a climate resiliency assessment of all species found in campus community gardens, building off the previous Climate Ready Food Plant List developed by Mcleod et al. Through our findings and deliverables we aim to develop practical resources to support the mobilization of knowledge for the use of all our main audience, the community gardeners, alongside other stakeholders including, UNA, UBC SEEDS, UBC Botanical Gardens, students and staff. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”