| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.50 |
| Liaison | Chris Bond |
| Submission Date | Nov. 27, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Unity Environmental University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jonathan
Gibbons Sustainability Engagement and Data Coordinator Sustainability |
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:
The Prairie Road wetland research property is adjacent to the Sandy Stream division of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The USFWS manages the fields on the NWR for waterfowl feed. (source: woodlot management plan by TwoTrees Forestry, 2007)
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:
The institution refers to the Beginning With Habitat inventories conducted by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. The most recent map of "High Value Plant & Animal Habitats" is January 2016. Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW, www.maine.gov/ifw) maps areas currently or historically providing habitat essential to the conservation of endangered or threatened species including roseate terns, piping plovers, and least terns as directed by the Maine Endangered Species Act. These regulated areas may require special management. Identification of Essential Habitat areas is based on species observations (occupancy). For more information about Essential Wildlife Habitats, go to www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/species/endangered_species/ essential_habitat/introduction.htm. These habitat layers also may be downloaded from the Maine Office of GIS Data Catalog at http://apollo.ogis.state.me.us/catalog.
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Prairie Road wetland area contains known rare, threatened, or endangered species occurrence and/or the associated habitats based on species sightings, as well as Rare Plant communities, and Inland Waterfowl / Wading Bird habitat.
Species identified include:
Water Stargrass (Species of Special Concern)
Yellow Lampmussel (Threatened Species)
Silver Maple Floodplain Forest (Natural Community).
The McKay Farm property contains Creeper (Species of Special Concern).
Both McKay Farm and the main campus are planting sites for American Chestnut blight resistant cross breeds that have been donated by the American Chestnut Foundation and raised/planted by one of the faculty and his class.
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Blight resistant American Chestnut back crosses have been planted on campus through a partnership a professor has established with the American Chestnut Foundation. Various spots on campus have been identified where trees have been planted or should be planted in the future. They are protected to ensure their survival from predation while they are first establishing themselves.
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.