| Overall Rating | Platinum - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.66 |
| Liaison | Mark Lichtenstein |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.44 / 2.00 |
Sue
Fassler Sustainable Facilities Manager Facilities |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Total campus area:
10,117.15
Hectares
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides | 8.01 Hectares |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 10.38 Hectares |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 0 Hectares |
| Total area of managed grounds | 18.39 Hectares |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
Managed grounds include the Syracuse campus and "managed grounds" on ESF's regional campuses and field stations (http://www.esf.edu/campuses/).
This excludes building footprints, impervious surfaces, and forested areas on ESF's regional campuses and field stations. Similar to the criteria for "experimental agriculture land," these forested areas are comprised in large part of experimental forest land, and land that is not regularly managed or maintained from the area of managed grounds. They are used for either forestry research or for un-managed conservation.
At ESF's Heiberg, Tully and Lafayette Road regional campuses, small amounts of pesticides were used during the summer of 2018 in targeted applications. In the near future, ESF plans to shift these managed grounds to organic management.
This excludes building footprints, impervious surfaces, and forested areas on ESF's regional campuses and field stations. Similar to the criteria for "experimental agriculture land," these forested areas are comprised in large part of experimental forest land, and land that is not regularly managed or maintained from the area of managed grounds. They are used for either forestry research or for un-managed conservation.
At ESF's Heiberg, Tully and Lafayette Road regional campuses, small amounts of pesticides were used during the summer of 2018 in targeted applications. In the near future, ESF plans to shift these managed grounds to organic management.
Organic program
43.57
If reporting an organic program, provide:
ESF's Ranger School, and Newcomb and Warrensburg campuses do not use pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program
56.43
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
ESF's Syracuse, Tully, Heiberg (Tully) and Lafayette locations only use chemical pesticides once or twice a year. This is done to manage populations of invasive species or species that could cause harm to campus visitors (e.g., poison ivy or bee/wasp nests). Written approval is required by ESF leadership to use chemicals and application must be supervised by a certified members of the campus operational staff.
ESF minimizes the exposure of campus members and visitors to toxic chemicals that may be used in the control of animal, insect, and vegetation pests. ESF prohibits the use of toxic chemicals whenever options for alternate means of control are available. The College does not use fertilizer unless necessary. Organic fertilizers are used in lieu of chemical fertilizers whenever possible.
If herbicides are used, they are typically sprayed in a very limited coverage areas (ex: 6 foot wide broadcast coverage area along the side of forest roads).
ESF minimizes the exposure of campus members and visitors to toxic chemicals that may be used in the control of animal, insect, and vegetation pests. ESF prohibits the use of toxic chemicals whenever options for alternate means of control are available. The College does not use fertilizer unless necessary. Organic fertilizers are used in lieu of chemical fertilizers whenever possible.
If herbicides are used, they are typically sprayed in a very limited coverage areas (ex: 6 foot wide broadcast coverage area along the side of forest roads).
Optional Fields
ESF’s Native Plant Policy:
Only plant species native or naturalized to New York State and/or the northeast United States will be planted in the future at the College. New plantings as well as replacement plantings shall be selected from those species identified in Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation (Leopold D.J. 2005. Timber Press, Portland, OR) or. Trees of New York. Native and Naturalized (Leopold, D.J. 2003 Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, NY).
Only plant species native or naturalized to New York State and/or the northeast United States will be planted in the future at the College. New plantings as well as replacement plantings shall be selected from those species identified in Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation (Leopold D.J. 2005. Timber Press, Portland, OR) or. Trees of New York. Native and Naturalized (Leopold, D.J. 2003 Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, NY).
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Generally, there is no watering on lawn areas. The College purchased Self Watering Planters from Earth Planter to replace existing plant containers, thus increasing time frame between watering and reducing labor, water and fuel usage by 50-80%. Several rain gardens (near two buildings) collect excess surface water runoff from either rooftop or adjacent pavement.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
ESF’s Landscaping Policy:
Landscape waste will not be sent to landfills or incinerators. Instead, it is brought to ESF's Southern Properties for management. Lawn clippings will generally be left in place on lawns to decompose and naturally fertilize those areas. Whenever possible, landscape waste will be used to mulch campus planting beds in lieu of being moved to off-site locations for decomposition.
Landscape waste will not be sent to landfills or incinerators. Instead, it is brought to ESF's Southern Properties for management. Lawn clippings will generally be left in place on lawns to decompose and naturally fertilize those areas. Whenever possible, landscape waste will be used to mulch campus planting beds in lieu of being moved to off-site locations for decomposition.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
No-Mow zones, green roofs, trees/shading, bioswales, native plantings.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
ESF’s Snow Removal Policy:
Snow-melting chemicals shall not be used as a replacement to physical removal of snow by shoveling and/or sweeping. Wherever possible surfaces will be exposed to the sun to aid in natural snow melting and evaporation. Snow-melting chemicals shall be used only when necessary to ensure the safety of campus and building users to prevent the build-up of ice on exterior streets, walkways, and stairway surfaces. Snow-melting chemicals will be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ application instructions in quantities only adequate to make them effective. Chemicals used will be selected to limit their impact upon the environment as well as upon constructed surfaces. Preference will be given to those chemicals identified as least toxic to vegetation.
Snow-melting chemicals shall not be used as a replacement to physical removal of snow by shoveling and/or sweeping. Wherever possible surfaces will be exposed to the sun to aid in natural snow melting and evaporation. Snow-melting chemicals shall be used only when necessary to ensure the safety of campus and building users to prevent the build-up of ice on exterior streets, walkways, and stairway surfaces. Snow-melting chemicals will be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ application instructions in quantities only adequate to make them effective. Chemicals used will be selected to limit their impact upon the environment as well as upon constructed surfaces. Preference will be given to those chemicals identified as least toxic to vegetation.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Building footprints, managed forests, research plots and impervious surfaces have been excluded
ESF's 25,000 acres of satellite forest properties were excluded, given their use as either intensive forestry research or for un-managed conservation.
- Cranberry Lake = 2.3 acres. Organic
- Heiberg Memorial Forest (Tully) = 5.25 acres. IPM
- Lafayette Experimental Station = 6.0 acres. IPM
- Newcomb = 4 acres. Organic
- Ranger School = 6.4 acres. Organic
- Syracuse Campus = 6.14 acres. IPM
- Tully = 8.25 acres. IPM
- Warrensburg (Pack Forest) = 7.1 acres. Organic
ESF's 25,000 acres of satellite forest properties were excluded, given their use as either intensive forestry research or for un-managed conservation.
- Cranberry Lake = 2.3 acres. Organic
- Heiberg Memorial Forest (Tully) = 5.25 acres. IPM
- Lafayette Experimental Station = 6.0 acres. IPM
- Newcomb = 4 acres. Organic
- Ranger School = 6.4 acres. Organic
- Syracuse Campus = 6.14 acres. IPM
- Tully = 8.25 acres. IPM
- Warrensburg (Pack Forest) = 7.1 acres. Organic
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.