Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	74.30
Liaison	Joséanne Bélanger-Gravel
Submission Date	Sept. 2, 2022

STARS v2.2

Polytechnique Montréal
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	Joséanne Bélanger-Gravel Sustainability Advisor Sustainable Development Office

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Polytechnique Montreal shares a campus with Université de Montréal on Montreal's Mount Royal, which has been listed since 2005 as a Historic and Natural District by decree of the government of Quebec. The site is now known in French as "Site Patrimonial du Mont-Royal" (Mount Royal Heritage Site). Since the institutions have been on this site well before it was recognized as a protected area, this status of Mount Royal encourages and stimulates changes in operations. Because of its location on the mountainside of Mount Royal, the entire campus is considered as a protected area. This special status protects and promotes historical, natural and cultural features in this sector. Therefore, Polytechnique Montréal must respect strict regulations and obligations in regard to maintenance and development of its campus.
Decree : http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=1&file=2005F%2F43917.PDF
Link to the Cultural Heritage website of Quebec : https://www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca/rpcq/detail.do?methode=consulter&id=93313&type=bien#.WdeELlvWzcs

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:

The list of flora species currently threatened on the campus:
Oval-Headed Sedge (Carex dephalophora),
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis),
White Trillium (Trillium garndiflorum),
Butternut or White Walnut (Juglans cinerea).

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:

The map identifies the location of mammals, mushrooms, birds, amphibians and the various flora communities (brownfields, maples, oaks, poplars, vegetation on disturbed sites....) and their ecological value (high, medium, low).

For details:
https://durable.umontreal.ca/biodiversite/biodiversity-english/#c276858

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:

In 2011, Université de Montréal, with the help of Polytechnique, carried out an important inventory and created a map showing the different fauna and flora species and their ecological value as well as the different walking paths available around campus. This also resulted in the development of a Biodiversity action plan for the entire campus (Plan d'action 2012-2020).

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

The study led in 2011 by the internal expert of affiliated Université de Montréal, Alexandre Beaudoin, had a focus on the three realms:
-wildlife;
-flora;
-mushrooms.

The study also made recommendations on:
-wildlife;
-flora;
-education;
-land planning;
-humans;
-the potential for other similar studies and internships.

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

The Biodiversity action plan for 2012-2020 focuses on 8 main priorities:
1. Improve the condition of our woodlands and encourage the dissemination of their ecological wealth.
2. Actively participate in the development of the Third Summit Park (Tiohtià:ke Otsira'kéhne), on Mount Royal.
3. Ensure the preparation and monitoring of species inventories.
4. Promote the development of projects that contribute to food production in the forest and the city.
5. Be proactive in terms of stormwater management.
6. Establish a green space management plan for the different campuses.
7. Integrate biodiversity supporting strategies into the buildings.
8. Mobilize the community and increase awareness around biodiversity.

Optional Fields

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

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

https://durable.umontreal.ca/fileadmin/durable/images/BIODIVERSITE/Biodiversity__English_/Bilan_biodiv_2018_en.pdf

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Polytechnique Montréal's campus benefits from a very special location on Mount Royal, in Montreal. Polytechnique itself owns a very small part of the area (about 5 hectares). Among those 5 hectares, only 0.5 hectares are vegetalised lands (mostly just grass), the buildings, roads, parkings and sidewalks surrounding the buildings occupying the remaining. Polytechnique Montréal is affiliated to Université de Montréal, which owns and manages the surrounding lands. Since the area is protected by a provincial decree, many municipal regulations are in place to implement the protection of this location. Polytechnique's campus is included in the scope of the biodiversity assessment and Biodiversity action plan that were developed by Université de Montréal.

Polytechnique and Université de Montréal work closely with other organizations (such as Les Amis de la Montagne, for instance) to protect Mount Royal.

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.