| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.18 |
| Liaison | Chris Adam |
| Submission Date | Dec. 30, 2024 |
Dawson College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Chris
Adam Coordinator Sustainability Office |
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:
2024 - Dawson is located 1.5 kilometers from the centre of Montreal yet has created biodiversity micro-habitats on rooftops and on campus to attract wildlife. In 2023, at the UN COP15 Biodiversity conference, Dawson announced that it would try to attract and identify 1000 species in 1000 days to its urban rooftops and grounds. The 1000 species mark was attained in October of 2024. Students and staff identified species using the iNaturalist program. This effort is part of the Nature Positive University initiative and the Campus Biodiversity Network. This was achieved because of a 15 year effort to create small micro-habitats on rooftops, parking lots and the city block that the campus owns. This city bock has several raised ponds, a bioretention project that purifies water and houses wet-meadow habitat plants, a dead tree garden for mushrooms and invertebrates, pollinator gardens on the grounds and rooftops, a naturalized zone linking hegdes on opposite ends of the property, hugel garden for native plants and native beetles, a succession zone, and a 20,0000 sq ft ecological peace garden that anchors the biodiversity initiatives.
Species highlight: 4 species of bats are present on the grounds and further research is being done to determine whether the Dawson building is being used as a roosting site.
Previos report: Two species of migrating birds have nested on the gym roof (a mallard duck nested 5 times) within the habitat restoration project area. Monarchs are now breeding on site after years of monitoring and landscaping for monarchs. Approximately 300-400 milkweed plants now grow on site representing three species. Ecological gardens with hundreds of native flowering plants support 100's of species of insects. 104 species of invertebrates were identified after only several months of a rooftop micro-habitat construction project. In 2014, the City of Montreal's "Espace pour la Vie" (space for life) has designated Dawson's gardens a biodiversity zone and a monarch oasis.
Endangered and vulnerable species
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
The monarch butterfly is now assessed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and has made the IUCN Red List.
Areas of biodiversity importance
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
After 15 years of introducing native plants and milkweed onto the property, wild monarch butterflies are now visiting and breeding on the property. A butterfly nursery was designed and constructed by Industrial Design Students and is now placed on the gym roof. It serves as a safe enclosure from parasitic wasps and other predators for caterpillars and chysalises. We have created 10 micro-habitats on the campus grounds (a city block of approx 12 aces) and on rooftops that are very small, but attract much life and they are used by many classes for various studies. Our ecological peace garden contains a minimum of 70% native species as we slowly replace non-native species from the grounds. This is a slow process as the grounds are designated a heritage site and it is difficult to change the landscape.
These gardens have blueprints identifying location, species planted and yearly maintenance.
Trees are inventoried and recieve a health check every two years. All trees have an individual health sheet and can be identified on an on-line link by staff, students and the public.
Methodologies
If yes to either of the above, provide the following:
- All trees on the property are identified and monitored by professionals.
- An inventory of birds seen and nesting on our urban location is done yearly and recorded. This is compared to the status of each species as per the environment ministry.
- Software and laptops were purchased to identify bat species seen on the grounds to identify possible roosting sites. The Red-bat and little brown bat are of particular interest to conservation groups.
- Bird nesting sites are protected by the college security team and migratory bird laws posted.
- Invertebrate life on rooftops is also monitored by biology students.
- iNaturalist programs are used to encourage identification of species that are then "pinned" on a public virtual map. iNaturalist members and Dawson staff verify the identifications.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
- Yearly inventories were started in 2021. This will continue yearly as part of a major campaign to attract and identify 1000 species in 1000 days on the city block. This program is continuing as a demonstration project of what is possible in an urban setting.
- The biodiversity project is being followed by Nature Positive Universities and the Campus Biodiversity Network
- The monarch nursery program teaches about and practices proper hygiene when trying to limit viral and parasitic loads on the monarch caterpillars and adult butterflies.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
- A master landscape plan is being implemented that recognizes the biodiversity zones as part of the overall landscape plan.
- A new monarch nursery has been constructed on the rooftop in 2024 to expand this program for a threatened species (monarch).
- Snow melt and its associated pollutants are being discussed for their potential influence on the soil and biodiversity zones. Beet-based organic ice melting pellets have replaced salt in some areas.
- Student experimental research continues on various specific plants invertebrates. The hedge surrounding the building for an entire city block is now managed as a biodiversity zone (established in 2019).
- Updated in 2024: A Garden & Biodiversity Maintenance Guide documents when various areas were established, what is planted there, reviews maintenance requirements and has a section on interesting notes. This guide is important to capture traditional knowledge and to help incoming volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities.
- Biodiversity areas were increased by 10% in 2022-2023 with the addition of a bio retention area and a "nurse log" garden to attract invertebrates and mushrooms.
Optional Fields
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:
Article - 1000 species in 1000 days: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/news/dawson-community-mobilizing-to-identify-1000-species-in-1000-days/
Extensive biodiversity zone and garden maintenance plans were created from 2017-2019 that document work to be done in each area during the 4 seasons with a review of the history and objective of each area. These guides were updated in 2024.
Peace Garden Maintenance Guide:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/Ecological-Peace-garden-Augst-24.pdf
Gardens & Biodiversity Maintenance Guide:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/Biodiversty-Guid-August-11th-.pdf
Monarch Nursery Project: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/blog/monarch-butterfly-nursery/
Birds seen at Dawson:
https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/blog/birds-seen-on-campus/
Biodiversity Zones:
https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/living-campus/biodiversity-zones/
Indigenous Flora on Campus:
https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/peace-centre/2018/05/30/indigenous-flora-booklet/
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.