Conservation Areas on Campus

The Conservation Area Land Management (CALM) plan is an essential component of conservation efforts on campus.

The University of Florida has 31 conservation areas on the main campus spanning over 400 acres. The CALM plan documents the existing conditions of campus conservation areas while supplying added recommendations for future enhancement. The CALM plan also plays a significant role in implementing and updating the Conservation Element of the University’s Campus Master Plan.

The plan draws upon our collective wisdom to develop inclusive solutions and is a testament to the collaborative teamwork displayed by the CALM Update Team.

There are several ways for the UF community to engage with the conservation areas on campus.

CALM Week: October 9th – 14th

The CALM plan highlights our shared responsibility to maintain and protect the important natural areas on and around the UF campus. The upcoming CALM Week will celebrate the work of all involved in the ongoing CALM updates and will raise awareness about the conservation areas. On behalf of the Office of Sustainability and UF Planning, Design, and Construction, all are invited to join!

Event Schedule

From interactive workshops to an invasive plant removal and litter clean up, CALM Week has something for everyone! As part of our shared responsibility to maintain and conserve the environment, we invite you to join the Office of Sustainability, UF Planning, Design, and Construction, and our campus partners in this exciting initiative.

Tuesday, October 10th

How To Hydrate For The Outdoors, 11 am – 2 pm | Reitz North Lawn

This on-campus tabling event, co-hosted by Florida Fresh Dining, will feature the opportunity for you to make a DIY electrolyte drink with take-home recipe cards.

Friday, October 13th

Find Harmony in Harmonic Woods with CORE, 3 pm – 4 pm | Harmonic Woods

Connect with each other and nature in the living landscape. You’ll destress through guided yoga, learn about the local flora and fauna, and make connections at one of UF’s hidden treasures. (Co-hosted by CORE).

Saturday, October 14th

CALM Week Green & Clean, 9 am – 11 am  |  Bartram Carr Woods

This volunteer event, co-hosted by the Thompson Earth Systems Institute, features an educational introduction followed by a litter clean-up and invasive plant removal. An optional lunch will follow the clean-up! The lunch will be an opportunity to network and socialize with other environmental leaders across campus and to learn more about the Environmental Leaders Network. Learn more and sign up to participate in the event here.

Campus Conservation Resources

  • BioGator – A platform that compiled over 1 million records of invasive species on campus and across Florida. The data was gathered through museum collections, community science platforms, and projects by UF faculty and students.
  • CALM Plan Update (Phase 2) – The recommendations in the updated CALM Plan, which is currently being drafted, were guided by the feedback gathered from the steering committee and campus community during Phase 1 of the update process.
  • Lake Alice Watershed Management Plan – Attend a workshop or complete the visioning survey to get involved with the Lake Alice Watershed Management Plan!