Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 59.67
Liaison Luc Surprenant
Submission Date Dec. 23, 2022

STARS v2.2

Université de Montréal
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Alexandre Beaudoin
Consultant, Biodiversity
Vice rector's office, Finances and Infrastructures
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Mount Royal was granted the Provincial status of Historical and Natural Patrimonial Borough of Mont-Royal in 2003. This status was recently revised to a Heritage Site. Since the Université de Montréal has been on this site well before it was recognized as a protected area, the new status of Mount Royal encourages and stimulates changes in the operations. In short, the entire campus of Université de Montréal, because it is located on the mountainside of Mount Royal, is considered a protected area.


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 list of flora species currently threatened on the campus:

Carex dephalophora, Sanguinaria canadensis, Trillium garndiflorum, Juglans cinerea.

GREBE ( Research and Studies Group in Biostatistics and Environment) has recently conducted studies to inventory status species in the Mount Royal woodlands on the university campus.


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 oak grove in the upper part of the campus is considered a site of High ecological value because of the presence of Carex dephalophora which is listed as a vulnerable or threatened species by the Quebec Ministry of Environment.


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

Three professors from the University did a study in 2005 in which they created an empirical tool to give an ecological value to different sections of the campus (high, moderate, low, not applicable).

Title: "Les espaces boisés du flanc nord-ouest du mont Royal: une richesse à découvrir sur le campus de l'Université de Montréal.(Boivin, P., Brisson, J., Bouchard, A.), 2005.

In addition, a variety of studies have looked at the flora and animals found on the moutain. Among other works, a meta-analysis was done by Alexandre Beaudoin, a biologist, for his Master’s degree in Sustainable Development. The conclusions of those various studies were presented in 2012 and are still used as guidelines for on-campus actions.

The Forest Ecology course (BIO 1306) of the Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences conducts its field portion through an identification workshop in the campus woodlands.


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

The study conducted by Alexandre Beaudoin in 2011 focused on the three kingdoms:
-wildlife;
-the flora;
-mushrooms.

The study also made recommendations on:
-wildlife;
-the flora;
-education;
-land planning;
-humans;
-the potential for other similar studies and internships.


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

In 2011 and for a period of 50 years, 13.42 hectares was given to the City of Montreal for the creation of a public park of 23 hectares. The objective is to protect the natural aspect of the land.

In 2009, a Protection Plan for the whole mountain was made by the City of Montreal. The Université de Montréal has signed and still proudly upholds this commitment.

In 2019, the city of Montreal has ceated the Tiohtià:ke Otsira’kéhne (kanyen’kéha native language) parc on the third summit according tu the 2009 agreement between the Université de Montréal and the City of Montreal


Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
100

Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Beaudoin, Alexandre. (avril 2012). État de la biodiversité sur le campus de l'Université de Montréal.


Beaudoin, Alexandre. (avril 2012). État de la biodiversité sur le campus de l'Université de Montréal.

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