| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.42 |
| Liaison | Andrew D'Amico |
| Submission Date | Aug. 25, 2021 |
Princeton University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Daniel
Casey Coordinating Architect Office of the University Architect |
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:
Princeton University does not own or manage any legally protected areas, Internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, or regions of conservation importance. However, the land bordering the Lawrence Apartments, the Institute for Advanced Study, and the D&R canal is a preserved wetlands and bird sanctuary.
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:
Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) - Endangered- Requires open water and associated riparian habitat that is abundant on the Property. Encourage healthy riparian habitat, minimize increased human activities. Carnegie Lake and vicinity are key habitat areas. Targeted searching and evaluation should occur in these areas.
Zigadenus leimanthoides (Death-camus) - Endangered- Typically found in wet, sandy pinelands bogs and savannas of coastal plain and piedmont. Available habitat occurs in the wetland shrubland/woodland in the extreme southeastern corner of the Property where the Millstone River flows south from Carnegie Lake. Targeted searching should occur in these areas.
Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron) - "Special Concern" - Requires open water and associated riparian habitat that is abundant on the Property. Encourage healthy riparian
habitat, minimize increased human activities. Carnegie Lake and vicinity are key habitat areas. Targeted searching and evaluation should occur in these areas.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Red-headed Woodpecker) - Threatened - Encourage open woodland habitat and minimize increased human activities in the occurrence area (open landscape areas at intersection of Alexander Road and West Drive). Targeted searching should occur in this area. Consider managing lawn areas as meadow.
Stachys tenuifolia (Smooth Hedgenettle) - "Special Concern" - Prefers open, open floodplain habitats but can occur in open woodlands in more upland habitats. Species is highly susceptible to deer browse. Available habitat occurs in the large restored meadow near the eastern terminus of Carengie Lake and along the Stony Brook. Targeted searching should occur in these areas.
Additionally, the following are non-native species which are endangered on Princeton land:
Magnolia zenii (Zen Magnolia) – Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, This species only exists in 40 collections worldwide, 15 of which are in China. Princeton is lucky enough to have two of these trees, whose fragrant flowers are among the first to emerge in spring. One, on the northeast corner of the art museum, will remain and be protected. A second one, a little farther south, will be moved closer to Prospect House.
Torreya taxifolia (Stinking Cedar) – Native to Florida and Georgia, there are now less than 1000 known mature individuals of this species left in the world. Trees within the native range are highly susceptible to a fungal blight which does not allow the tree to grow to maturity. This fungus cannot survive Princeton’s cold winters, allowing this tree to thrive. It will be transplanted to the northwest corner of the Architecture Building.
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:
The Property contains excellent examples of the natural heritage contained within the Piedmont physiographic region, especially those areas containing old growth and riparian forests but also including shrubland and meadow habitats. There were 56 different plant community types identified during field surveys, including communities dominated by oaks/hickories and Silver Maple/Pin Oak. Shrubland and meadow communities, along with forest communities, provide habitats harboring diverse elements of our flora and fauna. Although rare species were not encountered during the survey, there are five species that have been documented or may occur on the Property including Bald Eagle. The Property contains portions of Stony Brook, Millstone River and Carnegie Lake and their associated wetland plant communities. These riparian corridors provide important wildlife corridors through a highly developed landscape including multiple high-traffic roadways.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
A natural resources inventory and an evaluation criteria for assessing forested areas were completed as part of a biohabitat survey for the 2026 Campus Plan. The evaluation criteria consists of an ecological integrity index that will be used by the University to inform land-use decisions. The index is structurally similar to the Index for Biotic Integrity (IBI) concept used in wetland evaluation, and is based on the evaluation of 18 metrics that can be scored for each natural area or greenspace on campus to allow land-use managers to make informed choices about proposed changes to campus.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
14 different sites were evaluated and approximate classifications were used to identify endangered and vulnerable species.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
As described in the new Campus Plan, the University will set priorities for protecting, restoring, and enhancing the wetlands, streams, and habitats of the campus, particularly around Lake Carnegie. The planning framework provides guidance on development around these areas. Proposed strategies include protecting the University’s highest quality habitat areas, enhancing their connectivity to adjacent habitats along Lake Carnegie and stream corridors, and restoring the health of habitat areas where exotic and invasive species are predominant without compromising future development needs.
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.