| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.24 |
| Liaison | Justin Mog |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Louisville
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Aaron
Boggs Asst Dir Phys Plant Maint Physical Plant |
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?:
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
Horner Wildlife Refuge:
The University owns the Horner Conservation Property, also referred to as the Moore Observatory, which contains 210 acres of wildlife habitat in Oldham County near Brownsboro, about 30 minutes from Belknap Campus. Details: http://louisville.edu/biology/about-the-department/horner
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas (including most recent year assessed) and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Every summer since 1976, roughly 50 volunteers, including schoolchildren and senior citizens, spend a day in July at the Horner Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding lands participating in a national butterfly count. UofL Biology professor (emeritus) and Kentucky Academy of Science member (and Past President) Charles Covell and other butterfly specialists lead these volunteer citizen scientists in an annual local count for the national butterfly census. articipants are given basic training and paired with more experienced individuals. The intention is to document both the biodiversity and the total number of butterflies present in an ongoing monitoring process over the years. Endangered and vulnerable species are recorded with particular interest. This data is shared with the national butterfly census in an effort to monitor species health and distribution in the face of growing environmental threats, habitat loss, and climate change.
http://uoflnews.com/section/science-and-tech/countdown-continues-join-in-the-annual-butterfly-tally/
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
In 2015, for instance, volunteers recorded 1,495 individual butterflies and identified 48 species - the second highest diversity ever recorded during the annual census (the highest species count recorded at the site was 50). The results are reported to the North American Butterfly Association, which monitors the changes in butterfly populations throughout the continent.
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Horner Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Kentucky Organization of Field Stations (KOFS), a network that supports and promotes understanding of natural systems through education, research, and outreach in Kentucky.
The website URL where information about the programs or 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.