Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	66.01
Liaison	Lissette Hernandez
Submission Date	July 1, 2024

STARS v2.2

Florida International University
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	2.00 / 2.00 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	Lissette Hernandez Director Parking and Transportation

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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?:

Yes

A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:

The FIU Nature Preserve features a 1-acre pine rockland ecosystem in the center. Pine rocklands are considered a globally critically imperiled habitat and only 2% of Miami Dade County’s original pine rocklands remain. The Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) is fringed with state mangroves that are protected by conservation laws. BBC is also adjacent to the Oleta River State Park. The FIU Aquarius Reef Base is the world’s only undersea research laboratory, deployed 60 feet beneath the surface in the protected Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

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?:

Yes

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:

FIU monitors and maintains an inventory of 122 animal and 289 plant species found on our campuses as well as their conservation statuses as designated by CITES, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The plant and animal inventories are in FIU's draft Campus Master Plan attached below.

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:

FIU's Modesto A. Maidique Campus is designated a Wildlife Sanctuary by Audubon Florida. All campus vegetative communities that serve as wildlife habitats are protected under the Wildlife Sanctuary agreement. The Nature Preserve has three distinct ecosystems: Pine Rocklands, tropical hardwood hammocks, and freshwater wetlands. The plant and animal inventories are in FIU's draft Campus Master Plan attached below.

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 Office of University Sustainability has worked with campus faculty experts and Miami Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management to identify endangered and vulnerable species flora and fauna present at the Nature Preserve.

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

FIU's Campus Master Plan Element 13 Conservation specifies that "knowledgeable FIU experts will oversee issues relating to development and conservation of University natural resources. It shall be the task of these individuals to oversee the implementation of the coastal resource management policies defined in the Conservation Element of this Master Plan. It shall also be the task of these individuals to review, prepare any necessary additional policies, guidelines, procedures and implementation schedules within one year of the adoption of the Campus Master Plan."

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

The FIU Nature Preserve is a certified wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation, a certified butterfly garden with the North American Butterfly Association, and is designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary by Audubon Florida. FIU’s conscientious planning, landscaping, and gardening in this area has been successful in protecting and providing significant and quality wildlife habitat – food, water, shelter, and areas to raise young. A mangrove restoration project at BBC began in September 2009. Propagules from the red mangroves were collected and replanted as part of a Biscayne Bay beach clean-up. The mangrove habitat is an important coastal buffer that offers valuable protection from wind, waves, and tides, especially during storm events. The complex root structures also provide excellent spawning habitat for fish, crustaceans, birds, and reptiles.

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:

FIU_Campus_Master_Plan_element_13_draft_conservation.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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