| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.10 |
| Liaison | Jen Jones |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2023 |
College of Charleston
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Lucy
Davis Director Sustainable Agriculture Program Environmental & Sustainability Studies |
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:
The College of Charleston at Stone Preserve stretches across more than 880 acres along the Stono River and the Intercoastal Waterway -- a vast space that includes long-leaf pine forests, wetlands, savannahs, tidal marshes and brackish, saltwater and freshwater ponds and protected through a conservation easement. The five acre garden managed and run by the Sustainable Agriculture Program is also located at Stono Preserve and we are preparing another five acre parcel of land on Stono to plant a fruit tree forest.
The College of Charleston at Stono Preserve is private land governed by a conservation easement over the entire property. The easement is very specific as to how the natural resources on the property may be used and accessed. Any photography of the property, trespassing onto the property, or harming of the flora or fauna within it is strictly prohibited. The College of Charleston also rents one of our two research stations to the United States Department of Agriculture and Clemson University for their studies on the invasive Asian Longhorn Beetle. This research has opened up many opportunities for students at the College of Charleston to learn about forest management, invasive species, tree identification, and conservation.
Cougar students and faculty representing multiple disciplines study at Stono Preserve, which provides research opportunities in marine biology, forest management and historic preservation. Right now, the College and a local land trust are collaborating on a strategic plan to restore Stono Preserve’s native and diverse ecosystems and enhance opportunities for experiential learning. Many different classes are offered for students at the Research Stations at Stono Presrerve including Ornithology, Conservation Ecology, Plant Ecology and Taxonomy, Archeology, Hydrogeology, Geospatial Science, Applied Aquaculture, and many more.
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:
Wood stork, threatened (federal) and endangered (state). Bald Eagle, Threatened (state). Red cockaded Woodpecker, endangered (federal). Carolina Gopher Frog, at risk (federal), endangered (state). Red knot, endangered (federal).
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:
Stono Preserve is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. This certification requires a managed habitat meet multiple requirements, including supplemental food for wildlife, clean water, cover and shelter, places to raise young and incorporating sustainable practices.
Bird surveys are completed annually by Biology faculty and students and Audubon SC, and a crowdsourced community website has documented nearly 120 plant and animal species on the Stono Preserve property. Additionally, American Forestry Management, in partnership with the university, has developed a comprehensive, long-term forest management plan for Stono Preserve. Also, the United States Department of Agriculture and Clemson University has developed a complex tree species listing for Stono Preserve as well as the invasive insects that are documented in the area.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Every semester, faculty members in the Department of Biology conduct bird surveys at Stono Preserve and produce a report of key findings. You can view an example of this report at https://stono-preserve.cofc.edu/documents/BirdsofDixie.pdf.
The US Department of Agriculture also does a complex tree species identification report. Travis Folk Land Management also assists in controlled burned and species identification at Stono Preserve.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
College of Charleston students, faculty and staff participating in annual bird surveys can access more than 984 acres along the Stono River and the Intercoastal Waterway. The property stretches across long-leaf pine forests, wetlands, savannahs, tidal marshes and brackish, saltwater and freshwater ponds.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
"Stono Preserve is private land governed by a conservation easement over the entire property. The easement is very specific as to how the natural resources on the property may be used and accessed. Any photography of the property, trespassing onto the property, or harming of the flora or fauna within it is strictly prohibited.
Right now, the College and a local land trust (Lowcountry Land Trust) are collaborating on a strategic plan to restore Stono Preserve’s native and diverse ecosystems and enhance opportunities for experiential learning. Our work with US Department of Agriculture and Clemson Extension also works to identify trees that have been impacted by the Asian longhorn beetle at Stono Preserve and the Lowcountry and then removes them to reduce the spread."
Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity 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.