Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	77.56
Liaison	John Pumilio
Submission Date	Oct. 11, 2022

STARS v2.2

Colgate University
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	1.00 / 1.00 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	John Pumilio Director of Sustainability Sustainability Office

"---" 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?:

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

---

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:

Spreading Globeflower (Trollius laxus, NYS listed as Rare) was identified on an adjacent property but not directly on Colgate property.

Additionally, students in Colgate's biology program routinely survey and sample areas on campus for amphibians and reptiles.

The Office of Sustainability tracks avian activity on campus through routine surveys and soundscape recordings. A comprehensive list of the bird species identified on Colgate's campus can be found through the link below. Many of these species are neotropical migrating birds listed as vulnerable or in decline.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UFTKeg6tktbGqhQJz0hM9wKXSpNRy2_ueQzYw-V-sRo/edit?usp=sharing

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:

Colgate's forested lands provide breeding habitat for several threatened species of birds or birds in decline. For example, thrushes, warblers, and migrating waterfowl just to identify a few groups of birds.

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:

In 2013, Colgate's 1,059 acres of forested lands received certification from the American Tree Farm System for long-term sustainable management. As part of the process to receive ATF Certification, we worked with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to identify any endangered or threatened species on our property. This survey was repeated in 2018 and will be repeated every five years including in 2023.

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

The assessment covered Colgate's entire property focusing on the 1,059 acres of primarily forested lands.

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

Colgate manages 1,059 acres of forest that is mostly unfragmented and contains intact local ecosystems. Our 2007 Forest and Open Lands Stewardship Plan further designates hundreds of acres as "preservation." In 2013, we received American Tree Farm Certification for all of our forestland to demonstrate long-term sustainable forest management. Additionally, Taylor Lake---located on the main campus---attracts different species of birds such as mergansers, ducks, geese, other types of waterfowl, and neotropical migrants and more recently bald eagles.

Optional Fields

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

---

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

https://www.colgate.edu/about/sustainability/land-forest-stewardship

Additional documentation to support the submission:

---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

---