| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.01 |
| Liaison | Lissette Hernandez |
| Submission Date | July 1, 2024 |
Florida International University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Lissette
Hernandez Director Parking and Transportation |
Total campus area:
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides | 0 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 296.77 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 296.77 Acres |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
Total area of managed grounds is from 2018, the most recent year with reliable data of vegetated grounds acreage. Breakdown per campus is as follows: Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC) 174 acres; Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) 99.77 acres; Engineering Center 23 acres.
Organic program
If reporting an organic program, provide:
Although not specifically managed under organic certification, FIU takes an organic first approach and uses inorganic nutrient management or USDA approved pest control chemical applications only when needed.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
A brief description of the IPM program:
FIU has instituted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program and prefers to use environmentally friendly products. All chemicals intended to be used by the landscaping contractor (and any subcontractors) whether organic or synthetic must be submitted in advance to, and approved in writing by, FIU’s Facilities Management Department.
Optional Fields
- FIU’s Campus Master Plan includes a Conservation Element. Objective 1.4 is Protect Significant Native Vegetation and Wildlife: Create policies that aim to conserve, appropriately use and protect native vegetative communities and wildlife habitat, while managing non-native invasive plant removal.
- FIU was the first university in Florida to earn the Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation.
- MMC is home to nearly 10,000 trees, including a forest of native tree species at the FIU Nature Preserve.
- The FIU Palmetum features one of the largest university collections of palm trees in the United States. More than 60 species are featured on campus, including protected species, and there is educational signage throughout.
- BBC has five species of mangroves and is surrounded by mangrove forests on the north, northeast and west.
- There are ongoing programs for the removal of invasive vegetation at both BBC and MMC.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
- The Campus Master Plan Conservation Element Objective 1.3 is Maintain High Water Quality Standards on Campus: Ensure the conservation, appropriate use and protection of both the quality and quantity of current and projected water sources, including ground water, potable water and surface water through university policies.
- In addition to not using potable water for irrigation, FIU is upgrading the irrigation systems to the Rainbird IQ4. It provides advanced water management that allows the university to maintain the irrigation systems according to desired sustainable practices.
- At BBC, the integrity of the natural hydrology is partially being restored through ongoing work to remove invasive tree species such as Australian Pine as well as the soil so that mangroves may be planted in those areas.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
- FIU uses Melaleuca mulch which is long lasting, not attractive to termites, and doesn’t float as easily as other mulches. Using this product helps to eradicate the Melaleuca tree which is invasive in Florida.
- Food scraps from the 8th Street Campus Kitchen at MMC and the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at BBC are turned into compost and used as a soil amendment by the Agroecology program.
- FIU does not use flowering annuals.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program 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.