| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.39 |
| Liaison | Patrice Langevin |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2023 |
Pitzer College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Patrice
Langevin Associate Vice President of Facilities & Capital Projects Facilities and Capital Projects |
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:
Two areas on the Pitzer campus have been identified for preservation: the Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability and the main campus Outback Preserve.
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:
The Mourning dove, indigenous humming bird, hawks native to the area, for a full list go here http://bfs.claremont.edu/biota/birds/index.html there was a study done.
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:
Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability
Pitzer College Outback Preserve
Native perennial flora of the Pitzer Outback includes but is not limited to: white sage (Salvia apiana), redberry (Rhamnus crocea), flat-top buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), yucca (Hespero yucca whipplei), California croton (Croton californicus), tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), yerba santa (Eriodictyon spp.), mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia), wild cucumber (Marah ssp.), laurel sumac
(Malosoma), black sage (Salvia melifera), California sagebrush (Artemesia californica), lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertifolium), prickly-pear (Opuntia litoralis)and cholla (Opuntia serpentiana), scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversliobum), hollyleafed cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) and mountainmahogany
(Cercocarpus betuloides), scale broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), whiteflower currant
(Ribes indecorum), mesa horkelia or wedgeleaf horkelia (Horkelia cuneata ssp. Puberula).
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Through evaluations completed by faculty and students, as well as professional botanists/arborists.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Careful consideration was given to the flora and fauna of the area native to the Claremont area. Claremont is at the base of mount Baldy and a teeming with wildlife, the college has instituted a commitment to maintain this wildlife by not developing certain areas of our property. The methodology was identifying the terrain, monitoring existing wildlife and evaluating the balance of the wildlife to provide a comfortable environment that will allow the flora and fauna to return to its native area. This land has never been developed but through the years some of the ecosystem was off balance, studies by faculty have been done to ensure that the balance exists for all native species.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
There is an agreement at the institutional level to preserve both the Redford Conservancy property as well as the Outback Preserve.
The Pitzer College Outback is a 3.4-acre parcel. It is our intent to preserve and restore the remaining native alluvial scrub once prevalent on the footprint of our campus. Though heavily impacted and disturbed, in this area it represents a unique
combination of recovering coastal sage scrub and chaparral plant communities.
The Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station (BFS) is an academic resource of the Claremont University Consortium (CUC), which includes Pitzer, and spans 86 acres of CUC property. BFS contains Riversidian alluvial fan scrub, live oak forest, and grassland habitat as well as an artificial lake with surrounding riparian woodland and several created vernal pools. It is home to bobcats, coyotes, great blue herons, 28 mammal species, more than 170 bird species, 17 reptile and amphibian species, and hundreds of invertebrates and plant species.
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.