| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.51 |
| Liaison | Josh Nease |
| Submission Date | May 10, 2022 |
Radford University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Josh
Nease Sustainability Manager Academic Programs |
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:
Radford University leases and manages the 376-acre Selu Conservancy (owned by the RU Foundation); the property is under a Conservation Easement with Virginia Outdoor Foundation. The easement grants perpetual conservation and open-space easement over the property. The open-space easement defines restrictions on land use and development based on clearly defined conservation policies. Land Use Policies include: Natural Resource Stewardship; Species Protection; Open Space & Natural Resources; Open Space Corridors; Karst Goals; and Conservation, and cover the management of forest, riparian buffer, natural heritage resources, and karst features. The property borders the Little River for just over a mile. The entire Selu Conservancy property is managed under these guidelines, established in the Gift Agreement and Conservancy Guidelines.
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:
Assessments have not identified endangered species.
The Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Division of Natural Heritage has documented two natural heritage plant species on the property, Paxistima canbyi and Viola walteri.
Paxistima canbyi: Global Conservation Status: G2 Imperiled — At high risk of extinction or collapse due to restricted range, few populations or occurrences, steep declines, severe threats, or other factors.
Viola walteri: Global Conservation Status: G4 - Apparently Secure — At fairly low risk of extinction or collapse due to an extensive range and/or many populations or occurrences, but with possible cause for some concern as a result of local recent declines, threats, or other factors.
All amphibian species are thought to be “sensitive” species largely because of their habitat requirements—most require moist soils with leaf litter and coarse wood debris OR wetlands. In our surveys we have encountered two species that are on Virginia’s Wildlife Action Plan as species with conservation need: The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) which is listed as Tier III and Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) which is listed as Tier IV.
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 lies almost entirely within a Source Water Protection Area as defined by the Virginia Department of Health, and the preservation of the Property in its relatively undeveloped state may contribute to the quality of the public drinking water supply in the area. The Property has sinkholes within its boundary and protection of the Property contributes to the protection of groundwater and the karst ecosystem.
A Natural Heritage Resources Protection Area exists for protection of two natural heritage plant species on the property, Paxistima canbyi and Viola walteri. This protected area encompasses limestone cliffs high above the Little River. The canopy is closed to open.
Paxistima habitat is includes bluffs and cliffs of limestone or dolomite, usually growing in shallow soils that form over these substrates. These somewhat open to wooded areas are typically on the upper sections of steep slopes, often above major streams. The lower slopes often support dense hardwood or pine forests.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Scientists sample in sinkhole habitats, drier upland sites, bluffs, and wetland areas including ephemeral ponds, using microhabitat surveys, time-constrained surveys, drift fences, pitfall traps and funnel/box traps.
The Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Division of Natural Heritage surveyed and identified the limestone bluffs/cliffs area and located the two natural heritage plant species on the property, Paxistima canbyi and Viola walteri.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Natural Heritage Environmental Review is conducted by the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Division of Natural Heritage at requested sites.
Herp Survey at Selu Conservancy conducted by Dr. Matthew Close:
This area consisted of undisturbed grassfields, hardwood forest, walking trails, and small stream/pond areas stretched out across 380 acres of land. There was a variety of tree and plant species throughout the property.
Site 1: Burn Field/Garden Area. The area consisted of highgrass fields on one side with high grass areas on the outskirts of the hardwood forest on the other side with an access trail in between them.
Site 2: Dr. Smalls Spring Pond Area. Within the Selu Conservancy there is a small spring pond area just to the right of the walking trail past the Burn field/Garden area. The area is surrounded by leaf litter, trees, and small shrubbery.
Site 3: Mixed Hardwood Forest. A westward facing slope with a small steam dividing the area near the cemetery located on the Selu Conservancy.
Site 4: Gravel Roads. Neighboring cattle fields right before the access gate to the Selu Conservancy.
Surveys usually consisted of a time constraint of thirty minutes. During surveys, many methods of collection included: flipping rocks/logs, inspecting leaf litter and cave walls/crevices, capturing organisms, placing them into plastic bags for further observation and identification as well as conducting night cruising surveys. All animals that were captured were released back where they were discovered on site.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The easement places restrictions on buildings, roads, structures, and utilities; commercial activities; forest management; riparian buffer management; natural heritage resources; Karst features; grading, blasting, filling, & mining; accumulation of trash; and signage.
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:
Paxistima canby - Natureserve
https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.140694/Paxistima_canbyi
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.