| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.23 |
| Liaison | Rachael Wein |
| Submission Date | July 11, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Smith College
IN-2: Innovation 2
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Reid
Bertone-Johnson Field Station Manager Landscape Studies |
Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
190- Acres at the MacLeish Field Station in West Whately will be permanently protected. The hilltop forest and farmland owned by Smith College offers a place for students and faculty to conduct environmental research, outdoor education, or to simply enjoy a walk in the woods. The Conservation Restriction that Smith donated to Kestrel Land Trust will ensure that those uses will continue, while protecting wildlife habitat for the future.
A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
The MacLeish Field Station is part of a critical contiguous block of forest identified by the Nature Conservancy as a “resil- ient” landscape: an area that has the potential to support a wide diversity of plants and wildlife as they adapt to climate change in the future. Adjacent lands protected by the Northampton Wa- tershed Department, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Conway State Forest, and Franklin Land Trust create a large block of protected forest totaling over 5,000 acres.
For Kestrel, the conservation of the MacLeish Field Station also marks an important milestone for our land trust’s efforts to partner with the Five Colleges to advance land conservation in the Valley. Robert Jonas, Kestrel’s Board Chair said, “Kestrel is honored to be invited by Smith College to become a steward of their land. Together, we can ensure the conservation and stew- ardship of forest habitat, encourage ecologically responsible education and research, and promote sustainable forestry and agriculture.”operated over its first year of occupancy as a net-zero facility, meaning that it generates more energy than it uses and that it draws solely on a renewable water system.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
| Yes or No | |
| Curriculum | Yes |
| Research | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | No |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | No |
| Dining Services | No |
| Energy | No |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | No |
| Transportation | No |
| Waste | No |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | No |
Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
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.