Overall Rating	Gold - expired
Overall Score	72.66
Liaison	Megan Litke
Submission Date	March 5, 2021

STARS v2.2

American University
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	2.00 / 2.00 This credit is weighted more heavily for institutions that own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to any of the following: Legally protected areas (e.g., IUCN Category I-VI) Internationally recognized areas (e.g., World Heritage, Ramsar, Natura 2000) Priority sites for biodiversity (e.g., Key Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites) Regions of conservation importance (e.g., Endemic Bird Areas, Biodiversity Hotspots, High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas) 2 points are available for this credit if the institution owns or manages land that includes or is adjacent to any of the above. 1 point is available for this credit for all other institutions. Close	Courtney Stoner Sustainability Analyst Office of Sustainability

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, or regions of conservation importance?:

Yes

A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:

A legally protected area owned by the National Park Service property, Soapstone Valley (a part of Rock Creek Park) is adjacent to an off-campus building owned by American University (4401 Connecticut Ave NW).

Endangered and vulnerable species

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution?:

Yes

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:

There are no endangered or vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution.

Areas of biodiversity importance

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:

Yes

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:

There are no areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by American University. All of campus developed land.

Methodologies

If yes to either of the above, provide the following:

The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

A list of identified endangered species in Washington, DC is uploaded in the additional documentation.

There is only one endangered species in DC - the Hay's Spring amphipod.

In the species profile, the review (last available is from 2013) lists the habitat for the species as seeps or springs within Rock Creek Park. Campus does not include any land with seeps or springs within Rock Creek Park.

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc4172.pdf

A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):

The areas owned and managed by American University are all developed land, there are no endangered or vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution or areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the AU.

A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:

American University grounds are Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and certified by the Audubon International as a Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

AU's grounds provide food (berries, nectar, sap, pollen, and foliage/twigs) and water (rain gardens and a pond) for wildlife. Wooded areas, rock walls, dense shrubs, evergreens, burrows, and a pond provide wildlife shelter. Mature trees, host plants, and a water garden also provide wildlife with appropriate spaces for raising their young. Additionally, sustainable gardening practices include: xeriscaping, rain water capture, IPM, mulching, native plants, lawn area reduction, and composting.

Optional Fields

Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :

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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:

https://www.american.edu/finance/sustainability/Grounds.cfm

Additional documentation to support the submission:

Listed_species_believed_to_or_known_to_occur_in_District_of_Columbia.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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