| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.08 |
| Liaison | Andrew Horning |
| Submission Date | June 25, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Michigan
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Kenneth
Keeler Senior Sustainability Rep Office of Campus 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:
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 University of Michigan, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) conducted an inventory of rare plants and plant communities on our properties and a portion of related information is available at our website (http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/see/gis/). This work was done through a recent Institute of Museum and Library Services grant. In addition, we have several other past botanical surveys in which threatened or endangered plant species have been identified.
As for rare migratory/animal species, we have some inventory work done but recognize that it is not complete. We have done some survey work of our herptile populations but would like to do more. We currently have a grant through the Sustain Our Great Lakes program of the US Fish and Wildlife Foundation for managing habitat of the eastern massasauga. For bird species, we have informal information from the Washtenaw Audubon Society and others who have conducted butterfly surveys and/or done bird counts/walks and could well have some migratory warblers move through that are listed species. Our surveys of mammals are definitely incomplete. We have had some small mammal surveys done years ago in Dow Field, and some study of bats at Matthaei, but we have nothing that's been done completely. The natural communities and their native plants have now been surveyed, mapped and assessed for floristic quality, providing a baseline of information for prioritized stewardship and monitoring. With this information we will also create a set of natural area stewardship recommendations
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Michigan and is listed as a species of special concern. The snake thrives on the Botanical Gardens property, where it often uses crayfish burrows as winter hibernation quarters and can be seen moving from one location to another during the spring and fall. There are also a number of rare or conservative plant species such as twinleaf, early buttercup, and American burnet found on the MBGNA properties.
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The University of Michigan MBGNA has used grant monies from the Sustain Our Great Lakes program coordinated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund habitat restoration work for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. In Phase I staff improved nearly 65 acres of habitat by removing invasive shrubs, which encourages native species; purchased, planted, and caged 150 disease-resistant American elms; and sowed 75 gallons of native-plant seeds, among other efforts. Two major conservation goals for Phase II are ecological restoration work on 50 new acres of massasauga habitat and the removal of exotic invasives on 25 of those acres.
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.