Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems, Expanding Green Coverage, and Championing Animal Welfare

Batterjee Medical College (BMC) demonstrates an active, measurable commitment to SDG 15 by executing large-scale campus afforestation, promoting urban biodiversity, instilling agricultural literacy across generations, championing the humane treatment of animals, and conserving forest resources through circular and paperless campus operations. During the 2025, BMC expanded its terrestrial conservation footprint through landmark partnerships with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA), veterinary institutions, and student-led environmental clubs.

Large-Scale Afforestation, Green Coverage Expansion, and Habitat Restoration

Aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, BMC executed major tree-planting and botanical cultivation programs in 2025 to combat desertification and enhance terrestrial ecosystems:

• "We Plant It for Sustainability" Initiative – Planting 1,000 Seedlings: The Branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) in the Makkah Region (represented by the Non-Profit Organizations Department), in collaboration with the BMC Social Responsibility Unit, executed the flagship "We Plant It for Sustainability" initiative. Implemented under the formal Memorandum of Understanding between MEWA and BMC, the campaign resulted in planting 1,000 native seedlings across the college’s facilities. This large-scale intervention significantly expanded campus green coverage enhanced local microclimate and soil stability, and created thriving urban habitats.

• "Adopt a Plant" Campus Cultivation Initiative: The Medicine Program, in collaboration with the Student Development Unit and Student Welfare Unit, organized the "Adopt a Plant" initiative. With extensive participation from both male and female students, participants planted flora directly into BMC’s outdoor gardens and painted terracotta pots to adopt individual plants for long-term home care, fostering personal accountability for terrestrial plant life.

• Therapeutic Horticulture in Occupational Therapy: On October 23, 2025, during the "Promoting Mental Health and Well-being Through Occupational Therapy" session held in collaboration with Masar Center, faculty and students integrated hands-on plant potting and horticultural therapy activities, demonstrating how tending to plant life supports human rehabilitation and ecological connection.

Fostering a Culture of Compassion, Coexistence, and Animal Welfare

A defining pillar of BMC’s contribution to SDG 15 is its comprehensive programming dedicated to animal welfare, wildlife education, and ethical human-animal coexistence:

• Animal Welfare Club Educational Expedition to DJ Kennel: The BMC Animal Welfare Club organized a structured field trip to DJ Kennel to educate students on ethical animal treatment, habitat maintenance, and wildlife welfare in an outdoor setting. Guided by park specialists, students practiced daily care routines, nutritional feeding practices, and safe, respectful interaction techniques across a wide spectrum of mammals, avians, and wildlife—including cats, dogs, parrots, monkeys, birds, turkeys, and Australian ostriches.

• Annual Pet Therapy Event in Partnership with Veterinary Hospitals: The Student Welfare Unit hosted the Annual Pet Therapy Event in collaboration with IZOO and two premier veterinary institutions: International Animal Care and Tree of Life Veterinary Hospital. Under professional veterinary supervision, students engaged with diverse domesticated animals while learning about veterinary care standards, zoonotic safety, and the psychological benefits of animal-assisted therapy.

• Equine Therapy for Special Needs Children (Volunteering Club): The BMC Volunteering Club organized the Equine Therapy for Special Needs Children outreach initiative. By facilitating supervised interaction and movement with horses, the program promoted emotional well-being, physical coordination, and compassionate coexistence between children and animals.