| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.14 |
| Liaison | Kristina Hope |
| Submission Date | Feb. 2, 2024 |
Knox College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kristina
Hope Director of Sustainability Initiatives 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:
Yes, the Green Oaks Field Research Center is
of local importance for conservation. In addition, the Green Oaks property is adjacent to the Snake Den Hollow Illinois State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Located near the Spoon River in eastern Knox County, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the Knox campus, Green Oaks is both a research and recreation area. It encompasses 700 acres (283 hectares) of forest, grassland and aquatic 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:
We have three species which listed as
threatened with extinction by the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The four-toed salamander Hemidactylium scutatum, Henslow’s sparrow, and the red
trillium Trillium erectum.
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:
We feel that all 700 acres of Green Oaks are important for local
biodiversity. About 40 acres of the site are restored tallgrass prairie. About 40 acres is
a lake that was created by surface mining for coal (the lake is in the final cut of mine).
The remaining 620 acres are wooded with a mixture of hardwood tree species. There
are many large old (200 years +) white oaks which started growth when the woods
were more open. Today there are many younger, shorter sugar maples, several
species of hickories, black walnuts, black cherry trees, slippery and rock elms,
sycamores and other species of trees. We used to have many ash trees but emerald
ash borer has killed most of them. About 200 acres of woods are located on the strip
mine spoil banks. The strip mining for coal occurred in 1940 and 1941 – long before
the Mine Reclamation Act. Those acres were left to recover on their own. They are an
interesting example of what happens when damaged land is abandoned but they are
also good wildlife habitat.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
At Green Oaks Field Station, we do regular sampling for species diversity and abundance each year. The prairies are an endangered ecosystem and some of the species are rare although not classified as endangered or vulnerable. Faculty regularly sample for bird species diversity and in the prairies for plant diversity and in the woods for tree species diversity. The director does annual assessments of the presence of spring ephemeral wildflowers. Other groups are sampled less frequently, often by students doing independent research projects.
We regularly sample the forests and prairies to assess plant diversity and abundance.We have not done any systematic sampling to determine the abundance of four-toed salamanders.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Professor Stuart Allison
conducts annual sampling programs in the forests for tree and wildflower diversity. He periodically samples the prairies for plant diversity there. Professor Jim Mountjoy
conducts annual surveys of bird diversity at Green Oaks.
Green Oaks is both a research and recreation area. It encompasses 700 acres (283 hectares) of forest, grassland and aquatic habitat and is the second site in the nation where a tall grass prairie was restored. While we do not go out and specifically monitor Green Oaks in an attempt to identify endangered and vulnerable species, we have regular monitoring programs for several taxonomic groups that allow us to identify those species if they are present at Green Oaks.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
We continue to monitor Green Oaks for biodiversity. The entire site is managed as a nature reserve and we limit human activity at the site. The site is protected by regular prairie burns, limiting access and regulating hunting, fishing, and harvesting of organisms at Green Oaks.
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.