| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.17 |
| Liaison | Carly Thibodeau |
| Submission Date | Aug. 21, 2023 |
Endicott College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Carly
Thibodeau Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
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:
Wetland areas, salt marsh, and vernal pools surrounding the campus/within the campus forest are legally protected by Beverly Conservation Commission and regionally through Mass DEP Woburn.
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:
iNaturalist Endicott Project - students enter data in each year during fall semester to identify species in the area.
Snowberry- Endangered
Tussock Hairgrass- Endangered
Arborvitae- Endangered
Bald eagle- special concern
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:
The campus has coast line, coastal banks, marshes, wetlands, vernal pools, and a series of ponds.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Through continued campus expansion (newest building under construction 2023) and master planning a local civil engineering company has identified wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas throughout the campus. In order to undertake construction activities wetlands and wetland species have to be identified and protected where applicable under State laws and the local Conservation Commission for permitting purposes.
The Environmental Science program utilizes the campus for field work and does ongoing species cataloging via iNaturalist.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Assessments associated with campus construction are made for the entire project footprint. The Environmental Science program aims to document plants, invertebrates and vertebrates across campus habitat types.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
- We have a complete inventory of wetland resources and take steps to protect wetlands.
- The beach areas are maintained with organic methods.
- Native species have been re-introduced to the ponds on campus.
- A parking lot with surrounding wetland habitat was built with permeable pavement to allow water filtration and recharge. The same parking lot also contains educational signage about the wetland habitat and its plant and animal species.
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.