Overall Rating	Gold - expired
Overall Score	67.46
Liaison	Brandon Raco
Submission Date	Sept. 2, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Guelph
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	2.00 / 2.00 This credit is weighted more heavily for institutions that own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to any of the following: Legally protected areas (e.g., IUCN Category I-VI) Internationally recognized areas (e.g., World Heritage, Ramsar, Natura 2000) Priority sites for biodiversity (e.g., Key Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites) Regions of conservation importance (e.g., Endemic Bird Areas, Biodiversity Hotspots, High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas) 2 points are available for this credit if the institution owns or manages land that includes or is adjacent to any of the above. 1 point is available for this credit for all other institutions. Close

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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:

The Arboretum contains a number of significant biodiversity sites, including a Class 2 provincially significant wetland, and a mature maple-beech-hemlock forest in our Nature Reserve,
The Arboretum is an internationally registered Level III Arboretum with ArbNet.

Endangered and vulnerable species

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?:

Yes

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:

The Arboretum has a large number of provincially listed threatened/endangered plant species that are planted ex situ on our grounds. In addition there are a number of animal species, both resident and migratory, that are listed provincially (and some federally). There are also several other species (e.g. lichens mentioned below), which although they are not officially listed, are certainly rare. A full list of officially ranked species is appended below.

Areas of biodiversity importance

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:

Yes

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:

The Arboretum property includes watersheds protected through the Grand River Conservation Authority. The Nature Reserve (closed to the public) includes a Class 2 Provincially protected wetland. The central area of The Arboretum features two old growth forest areas that are part of the City's Natural Heritage protection plan, and a long term reforestation project connecting those two areas.The Arboretum is home to enumerated endangered and threatened trees and woody shrubs that are part of our ongoing conservation programs. Within The Arboretum, are other unique habitats such as fishless ponds that support rare insect species. The Arboretum also contains a number of rare lichens including one newly discovered species known only from the The Arboretum.

Methodologies

If yes to either of the above, provide the following:

The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

The Arboretum has had many biological surveys peformed, conducted by our field naturalist, by taxonomic specialists, and through bioblitzes involving the general public. Species lists for many groups or organisms have been created (https://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/researchandstewardship/biodiversity) which are assessed against Ontario's species at risk categories.

A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):

Formal and informal species assessments and ongoing monitoring include the entire area of The Arboretum. These have been carried out since the inception of the Arboretum (50 years).

A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:

The Arboretum, University of Guelph, operates under a Master Plan approved by the university’s Board of Governors. (The Arboretum Master Plan is separate from the general campus master plan.) The latest Master Plan, approved in 2004, follows two previous documents, from 1970 and 1986. The Arboretum Master Plan includes sections on the planning base (history, objectives, description of the site), the planning principles (related to environmental quality, spatial structure and fit, project design, movement and associated systems, and land use locations), and potential future plans for the collections, gardens, natural areas, buildings, walking trails and roads.

Optional Fields

Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :

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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:

https://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum

Additional documentation to support the submission:

Listed_Vulnerable_Endagered_Species_at_the_University_of_Guelph_Arboretum.xlsx

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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