Overall Rating	Silver - expired
Overall Score	46.40
Liaison	David Heithaus
Submission Date	Jan. 20, 2021

STARS v2.2

Kenyon College
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

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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:

Kenyon owns or is adjacent to over 4,500 acres of land legally protected under either conservation or agricultural easements. These properties are protected from development outside of their current uses and status. The Philander Chase Conservancy, Kenyon's land trust, is responsible for administering the easements and monitoring properties for compliance.

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:

Vulnerable Species:
-Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) in a seasonal wetland
-Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton) in a seasonal wetland
-Ohio state-endangered Eastern Hellbender Salamander in Kokosing River
-Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) in vernal pools
-Long-tailed Salamander (Eurycea longiacauda) in vernal pools
-Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in our upland forest
-Morels (Morchella esculentia) in our upland forest
-American Redstart
-Black-and-White Warbler
-Blue-winged Warbler
-Cerulean Warbler
-Hooded Warbler
-Kentucky Warbler
-Louisiana Waterthrush
-Northern Parula Warbler
-Yellow Warbler
-Yellow-breasted Chat
-Yellow-throated Warbler

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:

Habitats:
Vernal pools
Wetland habitat
State Scenic Kokosing River
Headwater streams

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:

Evidence of vulnerable species and habitats has been collected in a variety of ways ranging from anecdotal to preserve-wide survey. All of the work has been conducted on the 500 acre Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC).

BFEC staff routinely monitor sensitive habitat with an eye to the presence of vulnerable species. We also actively encourage students to consider taxonomic surveys as independent or capstone projects.

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

Variable. For habitat types and flora, preserve-wide. For specific taxa, habitat-specific.

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

The BFEC is covered by a conservation easement and managed as a biological preserve. It is fully staffed to monitor and manage the preserve for optimal ecosystem function. This includes invasive plant removal, reforestation and coordination with other institutions to re-introduce threatened and endangered wildlife. It operates under a strategic plan that is updated every 3-5 years.

Optional Fields

Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :

100

Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:

http://bfec.kenyon.edu/

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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