| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 78.69 |
| Liaison | Lindsey Kalkbrenner |
| Submission Date | Feb. 14, 2023 |
Santa Clara University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Don
Akerland Sr. Director of Planning and Projects University Operations |
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:
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:
Our campus (SCU main campus) and the immediate area do not have any identified special or threatened species habitat.
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:
Sensitive areas around campus tend to be due to nesting birds and rare species, and as a result are seasonal. SCU attempts to preserve all nesting habitats on campus during renovations and construction.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
SCU has conducted a number of Environmental Impact Reports prior to major development projects which have identified any environmentally sensitive areas on campus grounds.
Santa Clara University's citizen science project, SCU Gone Wild, focuses on campus naturalism. The program's website serves as a database to document observations on campus, field trips, and field courses. SCU Gone Wild is documenting and highlighting these natural opportunities for the SCU community and integrating longitudinal data collection for students and faculty through a website and observation platform powered by iNaturalist. SCU Gone Wild hopes that this citizen science project will educate and engage the campus community in their natural surroundings promoting more sustainable behavior and conservation. This project is ongoing.
SCU Gone Wild participants have observed salamanders, a burrowing owl, a peregrine falcon, flocks of cedar waxwings, killdeers, and an increasingly diverse plant ecology on campus grounds. In addition, several SCU courses integrate field station visits and wildlife observation both on and off campus. They are currently identifying spots on campus that serve as wildlife refuges.
A Bioblitz in Winter Quarter 2023 February resumed the annual cadence of this program.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
The assessment takes place on Santa Clara University’s main campus, which is located at 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA. The Jesuit School of Theology located in Berkeley is excluded.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
SCU prioritizes the preservation of bird habitats and nesting trees during any construction/renovation or landscaping projects of any sort on campus. Environmental Impact Reports are conducted prior to any major development in order to determine potential damage and come up with mitigation strategies.
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.