| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.59 |
| Liaison | Chris Adam |
| Submission Date | Sept. 7, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Dawson College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Chris
Adam Coordinator Sustainability Office |
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach | 0 Hectares |
| Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials | 5.40 Hectares |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 0 Hectares |
| Total area of managed grounds | 5.40 Hectares |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
This represents the total green space of the campus. All other land area is taken up by the building, paved surfaces and walkways. Parking = 2,929.4 sq. meters, sidewalks 2,584.3 sq. meters, paved areas 5,226.3 sq. meters.
Total for non-building = 32,406.8 square meters. 100% of Dawson's green space is managed without inorganic fertilizers, fungicides, and herbicides. Management of all biodiversity zones and gardens is directed by the Sustainability Office in partnership with the Facilities Management team.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
The IPM guidelines are written into the landscape guideline manual (page 9) and approved by the Director of facilities, the manager of sustainability (facilities), the Sustainability Office and the Sustainability Advisory Committee. The manual clearly states responsible parties for the various gardens on campus to ensure clarity of procedure. This campus grounds also work with the IPM guidelines listed on page 9 of the Landscape Management Guidelines document.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
The entire grounds are pesticide and herbicide free. No oil based fertilizers are used and compost from our internal composting program is placed back into gardens.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
As trees die and gardens are maintained, native plants are replaced continually. A minimum of 60 % of all garden plants are native species, with designated ecological zones having 100% native species.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Native plants that can withstand normal Montreal summers are chosen over non-native plants. Bioswales are being created along roof drippiness and a raised wetland is being planned to capture the rooftop water from one wing of the building.
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
All grass clippings are left on site and raised composers are part of the rooftop vegetable gardens. Composting is also collected in every hallway at 99 collection sites (1.1 tons collected per week) and sent to a composting centre in Montreal. Outdoor composting is also implemented near the College Ecological Peace Garden. Trees that are cut are chipped on site and used as compost around existing mature trees. The Mechanical Engineering Students have constructed a bike-powered branch chipper that can accommodate small branches that fall during wind events.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Night sky guidelines exist and outdoor lighting is used for only safety reasons. All lights point only to where the light is needed. Water sprinklers are used on rooftops for safety and plant propagation reasons and are set on timers to dispense water at night, several times a week.
Trees are planted to cover as much pavement as possible as part of a Climate action strategy. A minimum of 40% coverage is the minimum coverage objective for the 2020-21 year.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
Natural mulch is used in the garden (fragmites mulch was piloted one year) and natural pesticides are made by volunteers and applied to vegetables when needed. Invasive species (e.g. goutweed) are removed by hand by our Sustainabili-Team volunteers who work in the gardens daily.
All snow removed from parking lots, sidewalks and paved areas is kept on site and melts on the campus grounds.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Managers that have over 25 years of experience at Dawson were valuable sources of information regarding such information points as past practices, how the building obtained heritage status, tree care, and soil testing for various reasons.
Management of the non-garden landscape is directed by the sustainability representative of the Dawson Facilities maintenance team.
Managers that have over 25 years of experience at Dawson were valuable sources of information regarding such information points as past practices, how the building obtained heritage status, tree care, and soil testing for various reasons.
Management of the non-garden landscape is directed by the sustainability representative of the Dawson Facilities maintenance team.
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.