| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.22 |
| Liaison | Rich Walker |
| Submission Date | April 22, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
OP-11: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Debbie
Nelson Sustainability Intern VCA |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
Yes
None
A brief description of any legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance on institution owned or managed land:
SIUE's nature preserve, one of the largest in the U.S., is 380 acres and includes an area of high quality, old growth bluff forest (commonly called Sweet William Woods) and an area of restored Prairie (Whiteside Prairie). It also includes a Western Habitat Corridor, which ‘connects’ with Bohm Woods, an IDNR preserve. The principal purpose is to protect natural habitats on campus so that students, faculty, and staff can use them for teaching and research activities. The foremost goal is to maintain the ecological integrity of the area.
None
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes
None
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes
None
The methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Professors Peter Minchin, Kurt Schultz, David Jennings, and Michele Lorenzini conduct academic research and learning initiatives within SIUE's nature preserve. Minchin has created an established network for monitoring different patches of the forest, at varying stages of development since the project began. The students collect data on plant and animal life, paying especially close attention to endangered species flying squirrel. Data collection is ongoing since 2010.
None
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Dr. Peter Minchin directs a team that follows an endangered species of flying squirrel found in the forest. Since the preserve began, the natural progression of reforestation provides a variety of different types of forest for study.
Dr. Kurt Schultz produced ground-breaking research entitled "Canopy Understory Interactions," wherein he studied and catalogued interactions between the canopy and the plant and animal species that lie beneath. Schultz's team discovered the role of the Asiatic honeysuckle, the most dominant shrub in the campus ecosystems, which impedes the life cycle of species under the canopy.
None
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
SIUE's nature preserve, one of the largest in the U.S., is 380 acres and includes an area of high quality, old growth bluff forest (commonly called Sweet William Woods) and an area of restored Prairie (Whiteside Prairie). It also includes a Western Habitat Corridor, which ‘connects’ with Bohm Woods, an IDNR preserve. The principal purpose is to protect natural habitats on campus so that students, faculty, and staff can use them for teaching and research activities. The foremost goal is to maintain the ecological integrity of the area. The students also participate in modeling of the conditions associated with different ages of the forest and subsequent effects on biodiversity.
The areas of forest at the SIUE nature preserve are also used as a basis of comparison to assess the ecological integrity of ours and other forest lands in the region.
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
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.