Vassar College
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Cora
Kenfield Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
"---"
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 mission of the Vassar Ecological Preserve, a 532-acre site adjacent to campus, is to protect and preserve the ecological diversity of the land to ensure that its educational value will be maintained in perpetuity. The Vassar Ecological Preserve promotes increased understanding and appreciation of the natural systems on the preserve through field-based education and research.
Endangered and vulnerable species
Yes
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
- Box Turtles
- Wild Turkeys
https://farm.vassar.edu/Flora%20and%20Fauna/Wildlife.html
- Wild Turkeys
https://farm.vassar.edu/Flora%20and%20Fauna/Wildlife.html
Areas of biodiversity importance
Yes
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
Our preserve contains a number of wetlands that adjoin the Casperkill. We have identified calcaroius meadows, wet meadows, and forested wetlands. The calcarious meadows contain calcicoles, calcium loving plants. Upland meadows are in decline throughout the northeast. We have over 40 acres of this important grassland bird habitat. The NYSDEC has identified protected plants and threatened birds on our property.
Methodologies
If yes to either of the above, provide the following:
We survey vegetation at 20 points in four habitat types on the preserve every 5 years. We also monitor birds (1998, 2011) and amphibians (2010). The Waterman Bird Club conducts annual bird counts. Hudsonia and the NYSDEC have also conducted assessments at our site.
The Ecological Preserve is currently conducting an assessment of the space. The assessment identifies all plant and animal life diversity.
The Ecological Preserve is currently conducting an assessment of the space. The assessment identifies all plant and animal life diversity.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
The entire ecological preserve as well as land on campus is assessed routinely.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The Vassar College Farm and Ecological Preserve is a 532 acre nature preserve.
On Campus, a wetland was restored along Casperkill behind Wimpfheimer Nursery School. The Patricia Bullet Collins ’42 boardwalk runs through a wetland beside the Fonteynkill and work is ongoing to remove invasive species and support the introduction of threatened species.
On Campus, a wetland was restored along Casperkill behind Wimpfheimer Nursery School. The Patricia Bullet Collins ’42 boardwalk runs through a wetland beside the Fonteynkill and work is ongoing to remove invasive species and support the introduction of threatened species.
Optional Fields
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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.