Overall Rating	Silver
Overall Score	59.36
Liaison	Ben Dharmendra
Submission Date	July 30, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Sydney
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	Zoe Morrison Strategy Advisor Strategy Office

"---" 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:

The University owns a research station on One Tree Island in the Great Barrier Reef in Far North Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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:

9 sites were assessed and categorised as according to the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA).
Examples from Arthursleigh (a full list is attached)
Acacia terminalis - endangered
Juniper Wattle (Acacia ulicifolia) - least concern
Jacky Lizard (Amphilbolurus muricatus) - least concern
Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) - endangered
Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata) - least concern
Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephlaon fimbriatum) - vulnerable
Centaurium erythraea - least concern
Large Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) - vulnerable
Gould's Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) and Chocolate Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus morio) - least concern
Cheilanthes sieberi - endangered
Speckled Warbler (Chthonicola sagittata) - vulnerable
Conospermum longifolium - least concern
Copper-tailed Skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus) - least concern
Puketangata (Cyperus eragrostis) - least concern
Diuris ochroma - endangered
Drosera peltata - least concern
Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) - least concern
Blue Leaved Stringybark (Eucalyptus agglomerata) - least concern
Eucalyptus amplifolia, Beechwood Silver Stringybark (Eucalyptus cinerea), Eucalyptus globoidea, Benambra Snow-gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora), Eucalyptus radiata, Moroka Candlebark (Eucalyptus rubida), Eucalyptus stellulata and White Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) - near threatened
Eucalyptus blakelyi, Paddy's River Box (Eucalyptus macarthurii), Bibil (Eucalyptus melliodora) - vulnerable
Eucalyptus blaxlandii, Eucalyptus dives, Eucalyptus eugenioides, Cut-Tail (
Eucalyptus fastigata), Gunghi (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha) and Red Iron Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) - least concern

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 University has identified several areas, as listed in the Biodiversity Management Plan, that it designates as of biodiversity importance. These include area of our Camperdown/Darlington campus in the city of Sydney that is an important nesting area of the near threatened Lemuroid Ringtail Possum. The plan also notes potential to join tree and wildlife corridors at Arthursleigh, Camden, Camperdown/Darlington, Nowley Farms and Narrabri.

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:

Species lists were sourced either from the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) or academic staff, as follows:
• A.G.: Dr Aaron Greenville
• ALA(WF): Professor Will Figueira’s Atlas of Living Australia search
• ALA: Atlas of Living Australia search following the below method

These lists of sightings were selected spatially by drawing a circle that entirely covers the site or sites listed in the heading. For example, the I.A. Watson Wheat Research Institute is across the road from Llara Farm, and all records were included from within a circular boundary that included both sites (including sightings from outside the property if they were inside the circular boundary in ALA).

Ongoing monitoring includes site-specific site management plans which include biodiversity monitoring, species cataloguing and pest-mitigation strategies. Site management plans are shared amongst site managers to inform and identify synergies and generate ideas and new practices.

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

Sightings are split up by Invertebrates (Invert.), Vertebrates (Vert.), Plants, Fungi, and Birds where possible. While birds are vertebrates, there was such a significant number of birds sighted that we separated them from non-avian vertebrates. The conservation status for the relevant state is included, as well as the conservation listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Species are designated Pest (Y) if they are considered invasive and a pest species in state or national reports as listed in ALA data.

ALA data is derived from a range of sources and our methodology with no restrictions on years included. As such, some sightings may be outdated, an escaped captive organism or other anomaly, or even an error. These species lists should only be considered a starting point to enable Site Managers to see what may exist on their site and assist their decisions about, for example, which species to prioritise, and which to control.

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

The university Biodiversity Management Plan - attached below.

Optional Fields

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

---

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

---

Additional documentation to support the submission:

20201212-BiodiversityMgmtPlan-Draft.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The Biodiversity Management Plan attached is classified as draft at the time of submission as it is currently undergoing final ratification by the University Executive.