Overall Rating	Silver
Overall Score	59.20
Liaison	Elaine Durr
Submission Date	Feb. 27, 2024

STARS v2.2

Elon University
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	0.50 / 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	Elaine Durr Senior Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability

"---" 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:

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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?:

Yes

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

The Elon University Forest (EUF) is a dedicated and protected land preserve and natural area consisting of 56 acres. It serves primarily as a teaching resource and research site for academic programs.
EUF is unique in having patches of forest in several age categories ranging from 45 years to an area that has never been clearcut. This allows for space-for-time substitutions in ecological studies that examine secondary successional dynamics. In addition, the never clearcut area is what is called a “forest of continuity” that maintains several of the characteristics of old-growth forests, such as trees that are large and old for their species, and pit-and-mound topography. As such, it is a forest with relatively little human impact that represents an experimental control for comparison to younger forest patches. Based on past research, Elon University Forest is known to contain at least 40 tree species and many more vascular plant species in the shrub and herbaceous layers. The variety of young and old forest types also presents compositional and structural variation not normally found in forests the size of EUF.
https://www.elon.edu/u/academics/arts-and-sciences/elon-forest/

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:

The land that makes up Elon University Forest (EUF) was identified as an area with high biodiversity by faculty and staff prior to it being designated EUF (in 2010) and was a key reason for the designation. Research and course lab activities that took place on the land prior to the designation and since the designation support this.
A rapid biodiversity inventory is done in EUF on a regular basis as a Biodiversity course lab activity. The iNaturalist platform is used for the inventory. The platform is also used by others as part of courses or other activities to identify additional species in the EUF.
A biology faculty member has been leading annual bird surveys in EUF since 2011. A total of 61 species have been detected over the years.
Students regularly conduct faculty-mentored research in the forest looking at questions related to change over time in EUF.

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

The scope of the assessment is the land that makes up Elon University Forest (EUF).

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

The Elon University Forest (EUF) is a dedicated and protected land preserve and natural area per a 2010 Elon University Board of Trustees designation. It serves primarily as a teaching resource and research site for academic programs. EUF is not open for general public use.

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:

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Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

In November 2004, then-President Lambert signed a resolution declaring the campus a Botanical Garden. This distinction means the campus provides not only a pleasing aesthetic experience but also serves as an educational tool for the campus and surrounding community. Many of the plants, flowers and trees on Elon’s campus have been labeled to promote environmental stewardship, education and research. This effort is continually expanding with more gardens and labels added every year. Plants are carefully selected for every project and garden to ensure that they perform well in their individual environment and require the minimum amount of water, nutrients and care possible.
In 2019, the Elon University Botanical Garden earned a Level II Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and the Morton Arboretum.
http://arbnet.org/morton-register/elon-university-botanical-garden