| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.03 |
| Liaison | Mark Lichtenstein |
| Submission Date | June 7, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Brian
Houseal Director of the Adirondack Ecological Center Adirondack Ecological Center |
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
Adirondack Forest Preserve.
Early in the last century, the College began to assemble a system of properties that would broadly represent New York’s rich ecological diversity for scientific study and instruction. Today, approximately 25,000 acres of regional campus lands and facilities offer unparalleled learning and research opportunities. The size, scope, and ecological diversity of ESF's regional properties make it unique among institutions of higher education. Together, these lands constitute one of the largest college campuses in the world. Several of the regional campuses are located within the boundary of the 6 million acre Adirondack Forest Preserve:
- Wanakena Campus: The Ranger School; James F. Dubuar Memorial Forest)
- Newcomb Campus: Adirondack Ecological Center; Anna and Archer Huntington Wildlife Forest; Adirondack Interpretive Center; Northern Forest Institute
- Cranberry Lake Biological Field Station: Charles Lathrop Pack Experimental Forest
- Warrensburg Campus: NYS DEC Environmental Education Camp; Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration Forest
ESF Regional Campuses outside the Adirondacks:
- Tully Campus: Svend O. Heiberg Memorial Forest & Tully Field Station
- Lafayette Road Experiment Station
- Thousand Islands Biological Station
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas (including most recent year assessed) and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Over eighty years of research have been incorporated into over 30 ongoing monitoring efforts at ESF's Adirondack Ecological Center (AEC). The Adirondack Long-term Ecological Monitoring Program (ALTEMP) currently monitors over 100 physical, chemical, and biological attributes to provide the long-term perspective necessary to detect changes and identify trends in the Adirondack ecosystem. More than 70 ongoing basic and applied research programs investigate the restoration of wildlife, development of new forestry, impact of acidic deposition on soils and lakes, social organization of deer, movement of soil ions, silvicultural regimes, Adirondack Park biodiversity, and much more. Nearly 200 graduate degrees stem from studies conducted at this site to date.
http://www.esf.edu/aec/
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
- Forest Communities: Mountain Conifer (Spruce Slope), Upper Slope Hardwood Conifer, Northern Hardwood, Hardwood-Conifer (Mixedwoods), Lowland Conifer (Spruce Flat), Conifer Swamp (Spruce Swamp),
http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/forestcomm.htm
- Mammals: http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/mammals/
- Amphibians and Reptiles: http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/herps.htm
- Birds: http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/birds.htm
- Butterflies: http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/butterflies.htm
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Huntington Wildlife Forest’s (HWF) Strategic Plan mandates that forest manipulations must: maintain ecological integrity of all populations of threatened or endangered plants and animals, unique plant and animal communities, and all lake, stream and wetland areas; identify and, where possible, halt the invasion of invasive species; and identify and protect cultural resources. The HWF strategic plan also identifies Long-term Management Zones that call for allowing natural processes and natural vegetative succession to be the predominant influence. In addition, the the SUNY Board of Trustees designated a 971-acre Natural Area in 1941 to provide an area in the HWF for long-time studies of natural conditions untouched by forest operations. This area represents one of the few remaining large old-growth hardwood and mixed wood forests on HWF.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.