Overall Rating	Silver
Overall Score	52.37
Liaison	Sergio Alza
Submission Date	April 5, 2024

STARS v2.2

Brock University
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	0.00 / 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	Evan Rodenburg Sustainability Data Analyst Facilities Management

"---" 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:

Brock University’s main campus is located in a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve, formally known as the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network (NEBN). Brock is at the center of Canada’s Niagara Peninsula on the Niagara Escarpment. The NEBN was designated in 1990 and represents the largest contiguous stretch of primarily forested land in south-central Ontario. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO has a new communications strategy in which the term “reserve” is dropped from the name, or changed to “region.” The term “reserve” in Canada has a negative historical connotation for many Indigenous peoples and is not considered appropriate as together, seeking Truth and Reconciliation. Outside of Canada, internationally UNESCO still refers to these areas of environmental importance “Biosphere Reserves".

Biosphere Reserves are coined as ‘learning places for sustainable development’ and the presence of the NEBN, the Bruce Trail and Lake Moodie present an excellent opportunity to promote the stewardship of these ecological resources. The entire NEBN is home to more than 300 bird species, 55 mammals, 36 reptiles and amphibians, 90 fish and 100 varieties of special interest flora. The University and surrounding community have a strong interest in protecting and restoring this natural environment.

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?:

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

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Areas of biodiversity importance

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

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

The Niagara Escarpment lands are part of the UNESCO biosphere reserve, which includes Brock University’s main campus.

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:

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

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

There are several environmental policies in place which include provincial policy, regional policy, municipal policy, and the Niagara Escarpment Plan.

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://brocku.ca/sustainability/sdgs_at_brock/goal15/#brock

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

UNESCO Niagara Escarpment: https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/eu-na/niagara-escarpment

UNESCO BrockU: https://brocku.ca/unesco-chair/niagara-escarpment-biosphere-network/

Name Change to Biosphere Network: https://nefoundation.ca/programs/biosphere-project/#:~:text=January%202021%20update%3A%20When%20this,Niagara%20Escarpment%20Biosphere%20(NEB).