La Renaturalization of the Ciudad Real Campus It has become one of the main pillars of the environmental transformation of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), which is committed to a greener, more livable campus model prepared for the effects of climate change. Within this new approach, the university campus in Ciudad Real is beginning to change its appearance and how it is used thanks to several initiatives focused on biodiversity restoration and improving climate comfort.
In this context, the academic institution has already completed two of the four planned actions in the Ciudad Real Activa: Territory, Ecosystems and Resilience (CRATER) project, co-financed with European NextGenerationEU funds through the Biodiversity Foundation. These initial interventions, which combine applied research, landscape improvement and student participation, have materialized in a experimental green roof and in the regeneration of the historic 'Calatrava la Vieja' axis as an ecological corridor within the campus.
A campus being renaturalized with European funds
The project CRATER (Active Real City: Territory, Ecosystems and Resilience) It aims to adapt the university environment to current environmental challenges, promoting nature-based solutions instead of purely gray infrastructures. With a total investment close to 810,000 euros For the four lines of action, just over 655,000 euros come from European aid channeled through the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
During an institutional visit to the campus, the rector of the UCLM, Julian Gardeand the mayor of Ciudad Real, Francisco CanizaresThey were able to see firsthand the results of the two completed projects. Accompanying them was the Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Infrastructure, Inmaculada Gallego; the councillor for City Services, Gregorio Oraá; and the director of the University Infrastructure Area, Juan Sanchezthus highlighting the coordination between local government and university.
The renaturalization strategy includes both ecological improvement measures such as actions that strengthen resilience against extreme heat and torrential rains. In this sense, the campus is transformed from a primarily paved and functional space into a open-air urban laboratory, in which new formulas for green management and climate adaptation are being tested that can be exported to other parts of the city and the region.
In addition to these first two measures already visible, the project foresees other actions such as the creation of a edible forest and the naturalization of riverbank areas close to the university environment, which will complete the network of connected green spaces in Ciudad Real and expand the opportunities for educational and social use of the campus.
Experimental green roof at the School of Agricultural Engineers
One of the most unique performances is the experimental green roof installed on one of the terraces of the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineers in Ciudad Real. This project, with an investment of nearly 50,000 euros, transforms a previously barren surface into a vegetated space that will function as testing and innovation platform for everything related to vegetable covers in a continental Mediterranean climate.
The installation has been conceived as a living laboratory in which different combinations of native species are tested, types of substrates and drainage and irrigation solutions. Thanks to comprehensive instrumentation, data on temperature, humidity, water behavior, and plant growth will be recorded, so that it will be possible to Compare different green roof designs and determine which ones are more effective and sustainable in the local context.
This deck has been arranged several dozen plant varieties These plants are adapted to high temperatures and water scarcity, allowing researchers to observe their actual response to heat waves, frosts, or periods of drought. The results will help determine which species are best suited for similar future installations, both in other buildings at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) and in public facilities seeking to reduce their energy consumption through bioclimatic solutions.
Beyond the purely technical aspects, the roof is conceived as a top-level teaching resource for students of agronomy and other related degrees. Students will have direct access to the space to participate in the design of the trials, the selection of substrates, maintenance tasks, and even in the pest and disease monitoring, promoting highly practical training in urban green infrastructure.
The presence of vegetation at higher altitudes also contributes direct environmental benefitsIt improves air quality in the surrounding area, helps to moderate extreme temperatures on the building's exterior, strengthens thermal insulation, and helps to better manage rainwater. According to initial estimates, these solutions can significantly reduce the thermal footprint of the intervened surfaces, with the consequent positive impact on the comfort of the classrooms and offices located under the roof.
The 'Calatrava la Vieja' green axis and the regeneration of the trees
The second, now completed, action focuses on the Renaturalization of the Ciudad Real Campus through the recovery of the historical route 'Calatrava the Old' as a green axis. With an investment of just over 118,000 euros, work has been carried out on a route that runs parallel to one of the main walkways of the campus, where there were paved surfaces with little use that have been replaced by new landscaped areas.
The objective of this intervention is threefold: increase biodiversityto improve the campus's adaptation to climate change and make the university's public spaces more pleasant and functional. To achieve this, the project has focused on removing unnecessary paving, renaturalizing compacted soils, and promoting the planting of native species, creating a continuous ecological corridor that connects different vegetation clusters already present in the area.
The restoration of this central axis allows for the connection of scattered green areas on campus and facilitates the ecological connectivity with other vegetated areas in the urban environment. Thanks to these corridors, fauna such as insectivorous birds or small pollinators find shelter, food, and travel routesThis results in a notable increase in the biological diversity observable in daily university life.
As a complementary measure, the following has been carried out: rehabilitation of an old, disused fountainwhich has been renaturalized to become a small artificial wetland. With the collaboration of Botanical Garden of Castilla-La ManchaThis hydraulic element has been adapted to house aquatic flora and serve as a water point for different species, adding a new microhabitat of ecological and educational interest within the campus itself.
In addition to the environmental benefits, this renaturalized corridor improves the pedestrian accessibility towards the university area located behind the high-speed rail tracks, better integrating the entire university campus into the urban fabric. The result is a shadier promenade, with more vegetation and spaces for relaxation that encourage using the campus not only as a place to study or work, but also as meeting and recreation area for the university community and the public.
A resilient campus model that can be replicated in other territories
The work on the green roof and the 'Calatrava la Vieja' axis is part of a broader vision by the UCLM, which aims to transform the Ciudad Real Campus into a a leader in nature-based solutions within the Spanish university system. The information obtained through the implementation and monitoring of these interventions will be analyzed by the Infrastructure Management Office to develop a renaturalization protocol that can be extrapolated to the institution's other campuses.
This way of working, supported by data measured on the ground And through continuous experimentation, it allows design and maintenance decisions to be tailored to the specific climatic and social realities of each environment. The intention is that future projects, both at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) and at other interested universities or public administrations, will benefit from the experience gained in Ciudad Real, reducing risks and optimizing investment in green infrastructure.
According to initial analyses of the areas where interventions took place, the combination of vegetation, permeable soils, and renaturalized structures leads to a significant decrease in surface temperature compared to nearby paved areas. This reduction in the thermal footprint is accompanied by a noticeable increase in the presence of beneficial faunaespecially birds that help with the natural control of insects, which demonstrates the potential of this type of project to improve the environmental quality of the urban environment.
At the same time, the involvement of students and research staff in the management of the green roof and the monitoring of the new landscaped areas strengthens the educational dimension of the project. The campus thus becomes a real learning scenariowhere solutions can be tested and implemented that can later be applied in agricultural holdings, urban parks or public buildings spread throughout Spain and Europe.
With these initial interventions now operational, the Ciudad Real Campus is beginning to demonstrate how renaturalization can change the way a university space is experienced and perceived: areas that were once harsh and underutilized are being transformed into green, shaded and biodiverse areaswhich strengthen resilience to climate change and open the door to extending this approach to other campuses and cities seeking to integrate nature into their daily lives.
