| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.35 |
| Liaison | Wesley Enterline |
| Submission Date | April 22, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
OP-11: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.00 / 2.00 |
Wesley
Enterline Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Planning and Management |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
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?:
Yes
None
A brief description of any legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance on institution owned or managed land:
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LAWCON) was enacted by Congress in 1964 "to strengthen the health and vitality of the citizens of the United States" through planning, acquisition, and development of land and water outdoor recreation facilities. A trust fund was created to collect receipts from several sources (chiefly from outer continental shelf oil leases) from which Congress would annually appropriate funds to be distributed among the states and territories.
The UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve was originally purchased in part through funds provided by the LAWCON initiative. The Friar's Woods area, which is approximately 40 acres, was purchased using LAWCON funds in 1970. Other areas of campus have subsequently been purchased using these funds as well. Part of this area was also purchased to potentially house residence halls in the future, anticipating significant enrollment growth that has not fully materialized.
This formerly disturbed farmland started its transformation back to a habitat found native to Wisconsin prior to European settlement, thanks to the efforts of several faculty and staff members. This restoration effort has continued today and now several acres of land have been restored with native prairie species, and with active management of the area through controlled burns and seed collection, we hope to restore the entire area to native prairie species in the future.
The area is 110 acres, with about half of it as prairie or disturbed former farmland and half is wooded or contains heavy brush cover. Restoration efforts continue to this day, and the area retains some of its legal protections bestowed by the LAWCON purchase. However, more stringent protections are needed to ensure this land will not be subject to extensive development decades into the future.
None
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
No
None
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
No
None
The methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
---
None
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
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None
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
---
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Area of opportunity to provide additional protections to the Nature Preserve and conduct more detailed analysis of the area's importance to biodiversity.
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.