Rochester Institute of Technology
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Enid
Cardinal Senior Sustainability Advisor to the President Office of the President |
"---"
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:
There are more than 180 acres of state and federally designated wetlands that weave throughout and surround the main portion of RIT's campus. The wetlands are a rich source of biodiversity and serve as an excellent subject for classes and research conducted by faculty and students.
Endangered and vulnerable species
Yes
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
No endangered plant or animal species have been identified on campus. We do have a number of migratory birds that have been observed at our bird banding station. A list of all of the bird species (including migratory birds) observed on campus can be found here: https://www.rit.edu/science/rit-avian-research-station#bird-lists.
Blue Spotted/Jeffersonian Salamanders, identified as species of concern by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, have been observed and studied on campus.
Blue Spotted/Jeffersonian Salamanders, identified as species of concern by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, have been observed and studied on campus.
Areas of biodiversity importance
Yes
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
There are close to 200 acres of federally regulated wetlands on RIT’s campus, and of those approximately 186 acres of wetland are also regulated by the New State Department of Environmental Conservation. The RIT wetlands regulated by New York State are classified as Class I wetlands because they are in the East Branch of the Red Creek drainage basin and are hydraulically connected to Class I wetland BR-5. New York State has created a system with four separate classes that rank wetlands according to their ability to perform wetland functions and provide wetland benefits. Class I wetlands have the highest rank, and the ranking descends through classes II, III and IV.
Methodologies
If yes to either of the above, provide the following:
Wetland designations have been completed through on-the-ground mapping and satellite imagery by state officials and environmental consulting firms.
The RIT Avian Research Station observes and bands birds found on campus. more information on their research can be found here: https://www.rit.edu/science/rit-avian-research-station#bird-lists
A bioblitz was held on campus in 2018. A student club organized it and there findings can be found here: https://www.eswrit.com/bioblitz
Environmental Science classes do water and soil sampling in the wetlands and other natural areas on campus. They also monitor invasive species on campus and their impacts on the wildlife.
The RIT Avian Research Station observes and bands birds found on campus. more information on their research can be found here: https://www.rit.edu/science/rit-avian-research-station#bird-lists
A bioblitz was held on campus in 2018. A student club organized it and there findings can be found here: https://www.eswrit.com/bioblitz
Environmental Science classes do water and soil sampling in the wetlands and other natural areas on campus. They also monitor invasive species on campus and their impacts on the wildlife.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Multiple types of assessments have been conducted on campus, each focused on a different area or type of species. They have covered the majority of natural areas on campus included wetlands, forested areas and grasslands.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
In addition to the state and federal protections, the University holds conservation easements for several parcels of land. One such easement includes the RIT Bird Observatory and banding station.
Optional Fields
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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.