| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.07 |
| Liaison | Matt Wolsfeld |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Saskatchewan
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Erin
Akins Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach | 0 Hectares |
| Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials | 68.92 Hectares |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 0 Hectares |
| Total area of managed grounds | 170.30 Hectares |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
Many large fields used for experimental agriculture were excluded in addition to the footprint of buildings, parking lots and pathways.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
As of 2019, the University of Saskatchewan Grounds Management has completely eliminated all chemicals for landscape management. Inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides have been eliminated with recent improvements to the landscape management program.
Usask's sustainable landscape management program consists of:
- On site composting of landscaping waste and food waste
- Compost is used in flower beds and turf fields (no fertilizers used)
- A integrated pest management program (no herbicides or insecticides)
- Native and hardy species planting to reduce required inputs
- Reducing ornamental grass areas and increasing shrubs
- Rainwater capture for use for watering planting beds
- Micro-climate stations to time watering based on precipitation
- Establishment of edible forests with local berries
- Granular treatments are used on ice, instead of chemicals
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Particularly during establishment, environmental friendly management practices are used primarily to control invasive specie. These may involve high-pressure hot water, horticulture oil and vinegar or other cultural practices like hoeing, weed whipping, or hand roto-tilling of weedy areas. Hardy native species are selected for planting. Infected plant materials of existing vegetation are pruned out. In addition, native plant species or prairie hardy plants are used to replace infected plants.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Automatic irrigation systems with micro-climate sensors help to ensure that the quantity and time of water application is based on need. In many staff parking lots, only the driving lanes are paved to reduce impermeable surfaces. Green Roofs on top of the Law and Academic Health Science Buildings are planted with a variety of native hardy species which contribute to minimizing run-off from those buildings.
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
Grounds waste is composted and used as fertilizer for all grounds landscaping. Compost is also provided to campus community gardens. Larger tree trimmings are chipped and used as much as possible in planting beds.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Large historic trees providing shading across campus. Shrubs are planted around the exterior of buildings.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
Snow is removed manually on walkways to reduce damage to adjacent vegetation. We exclusively employ granular, rather than chemical, de-icing applications.
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.