| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.68 |
| Liaison | John Gardner |
| Submission Date | May 31, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
OP-11: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Matt
Werderitch Graduate Student Office of 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 any legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance on institution owned or managed land:
Downer Woods is a protected 11.1-acre site located on the Kenwood Campus. The university protects this natural area as a valuable educational and environmental resource. Students and the community utilize the trails for recreational use in the dense urban forest.
The UWM Field Station manages over 400 acres of land throughout Southeastern Wisconsin, which includes State Natural Areas such as: the Cedarburg Bog (State Natural Area #2), Cedarburg Beech Woods State Natural Area (SNA #61), Sapa Spruce Bog State Natural Area (SNA #208), the Neda Beechwoods area (which includes the Mayville Ledge Beech-Maple Woods State Natural Area (#143)-also classified as a National Natural Landmark by the Department of Interior). The Field Station also manages areas such as the Neda Mine (the largest bat hibernaculum in the Midwest). The Field Station properties are ecologically diverse natural areas that the university utilizes for research, recreation, education, and preservation.
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable 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 methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Each year there are dozens of research projects conducted by professionals, professors, and students at the numerous university-managed natural sites. The UWM Field Station publishes an annual report highlighting the conditions and events taking place. Management consists of maintaining trails and controlling invasive species.
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Neda Mine is home to over 150,000 bats from four different species (Little Brown Bats, Big Brown Bats, Eastern Pipistrelles, and Northern Long-Eared Bats).
Wildlife under the jurisdiction of the university include, raccoon, opossum, eastern cottontail, house cat, mink, woodchuck, gray squirrel, weasel (probably long tailed), white footed or deer mice, white tailed deer, American robin, house sparrow, song sparrow, dark eyed junco, barn swallow, eastern milksnake, snakes, painted turtle and American toad.
The Field Station has numerous publications featuring identified species within its various managed properties. Species lists for vascular plants, birds, mammals, and amphibians and reptiles are available as are lists of bryophytes, lichens, fungi, and selected taxa of invertebrates: contact the Field Station for information at https://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/datasets/
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Field Station seeks to positively affect the habitats of those environmentally sensitive areas it manages.
The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
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.