GEORGE NEWS - The Nelson Mandela University's beautiful George Campus' sustainable landscape practices, which include a no-mowing approach, is a win for environmental sustainability.

Across the globe, butterfly and bee populations are declining due to habitat loss, pollution and climate change. These pollinators are vital to ecosystems - they fertilise flowering plants, ensuring the reproduction of many species and supporting global food systems and ecological resilience.

The campus is reimagining how land is managed to align with its commitment to a sustainable future. One significant change has been to rethink conventional mowing practices. Certain areas of the campus, such as under trees and along road margins, are now designated as 'eco-islands' - unmown grassy patches designed to promote biodiversity and ecosystem health.

"A simple ecological study conducted on campus highlights the impact of this approach. The average number of flowers per area in mowed sites is 69, and in the unmown eco islands, 158," says Elana Kemp Storm, the campus' horticulturist. 

This is more than double the number of flowers compared with the mowed ones. This abundance provides essential food for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

"Increased flower diversity and density not only support these insect populations, but also create a ripple effect: healthier pollinator communities enhance the local food web by supporting insect-eating birds and other species.

"This demonstrates how small, evidence-based shifts in land care can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development goals. By protecting pollinator habitats, we invest in food security, biodiversity conservation and ecological literacy."

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