| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.35 |
| Liaison | Jessica Bast |
| Submission Date | Aug. 9, 2022 |
North Carolina State University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jessica
Bast Sustainability Program Coordinator University Sustainability Office |
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:
Lake Raleigh Woods is protected from development. Lake Raleigh Woods Advisory Committee is currently undergoing a use agreement exercise to determine areas that need protection due to animal or plant habitat. http://outreach.cnr.ncsu.edu/lakeraleighwoods/resources.php
Hofmann Forest is a 79,000 acre forest acquired for the purposes of conservation and forestry research. Hofmann is the largest university research and teaching forest in the world, making it incredibly unique. In addition to large, untouched pine stands, there are significant areas of pocosin wetlands, which provide habitat to red cockaded woodpeckers, black bears, bobcats, and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. A new long-term plan for Hofmann Forest released in March of 2015 ensures conservation for as much as 70,000 acres of the land, including an 18,000 conservation easement for the pocosin pine wetlands.
https://news.ncsu.edu/2015/03/new-hofmann-forest-plan/
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:
Below are the endangered or vulnerable species at Lake Raleigh Woods:
- Pink Lady’s Slipper: Endangered
- Catesby’s Trillium: decline predictably because of deer browsing
- Wild Quinine: Culturally significant
- Pawpaw: Culturally significant
- Sassafras: Culturally significant
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:
In 2019, NC State's Lonnie Poole Golf Course received the North Carolina GCOA’s Sustainability Award, which recognizes the ability to incorporate sustainability and environmental stewardship into operating practices. It's also an Audubon Certified Course. The golf course features an abundance of wildlife on the property, including deer, foxes, ducks and other fowl, coyotes, hawks, and bluebirds. Additionally, there are riparian buffers around streams and ponds to filter runoff, the irrigation pond serves as a stormwater pond for the clubhouse, and there are over 50 acres of naturalized areas with minimal care -- just one mowing per year. Lake Raleigh Woods is one of 9 hallowed places on NC State’s campus. Covering an area of 96 acres in Raleigh, NC, Lake Raleigh Woods contains extensive wetlands and wooded areas. The woods contain over 200 species of vascular plants, a high number of fungi and non-vascular species, and over 200 animal species. In addition, a 30-acre section of the woods is deemed a Primary Tree Conservation Area.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
To complete this assessment, trail assessments, GIS analysis, a site inventory, and botanical inventories were conducted.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
The trail assessment covered 6.1 miles, and the remaining assessment covered the entire 200 acres encompasses in Lake Raleigh Woods.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
As part of the Rocky Branch (urban stream) restoration project, native vegetation provides habitat, cover and food for wildlife. Plantings have increased the width of the forested buffer zone, creating a wildlife corridor and shading the creek.
The Lonnie Poole Golf Course is an Audubon Certified course, with part of that certification being to increase wildlife habitat. The course has active wildlife corridors, as well as bird boxes and other wildlife habitat features.
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.