| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.38 |
| Liaison | Jennifer Martel |
| Submission Date | Jan. 31, 2023 |
University of the Fraser Valley
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 1.00 |
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?:
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
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?:
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
UFV professor, Alan Reid, has completed a biodiversity inventory of the UFV campus, using GPS and mapping to identify and catalogue the trees and shrubs of both Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses.
Additionally, several areas of biodiversity importance have been observed and noted on campus including:
- swamp area between D Building and the Great Lawn. This area has dawn redwood, swamp cypress, yellow cedar, pacific Rhododendron and Rosa kiftsgate in it.
- the area around the residences, including the new Pollinator Garden and an area managed by the City of Abbotsford that has Indigenous plants for pollinators, plus a large wetland area with bull rushes and fruit trees such as Saskatoon quince and bird cherry, along with several ornamentals such as tartar maple, hedgehog holly, and poplar.
- the wood lot that joins Gillies Ave and the farms that border UFV. This is relatively untouched. Mostly second growth with hemlock, Douglas fir, osoberry and several native ferns.
- the Great Lawn has several trees that have anatomical and historical significance. Including Cascara, Ginkgo, cutleaf American beech, and sequoia, among others.
- The Indigenous Garden at Abbotsford and the Reconciliation Garden at Canada Education Park. Both were designed to showcase the Indigenous plants of the area and their significance.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Methodologies include a physical walk along through each area and recording bark, flower, seed, and leaf characters, then identification. Several students have been involved in the GPS collection for credit courses. A database and electronic map collection has been established and is available to Bio courses that need them.
The Indigenous Garden and the Shakespeare/Reconciliation garden are protected in that they are now used by other faculties in their teachings, therefore protected as a teaching resource.
Other areas are not protected. For example, a new residence is planned in the space currently occupied by University House on the Abbotsford campus. Planted here are heritage apple trees, Pome de Gris, and Bosc and Bartlett pear trees, along with concord grapes. They are mature, well-established, and likely could not be moved without damage.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
Biodiversity inventory of the UFV campus, using GPS and Mapping to identify and catalogue the trees and shrubs of both Abbotsford and Chilliwack campus.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The Pollinator Garden, the Indigenous Garden, and the Shakespeare/Reconciliation garden are ALL protected in that they are now used by other faculties in their teachings.
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:
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.