Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.95
Liaison Parker Long
Submission Date July 24, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Virginia Commonwealth University
OP-11: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Steve Heinitz
Recycling Manager
Physical Plant
"---" 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, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
Yes

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:

A portion of the VCU Rice Rivers Center is under a conservation easement that is held and managed by The Nature Conservancy.

The Rice Rivers Center is within an area designated by the Audobon Society as the Lower James River Bird Area.


Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes

The methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

All wetlands on the Rice River Center property were delineated using industry methodology by a certified wetland scientist.
Surveys of animals, especially insects and birds, as well as plants been, and continue to be conducted to determine overall biodiversity and the presence/absence of endangered/threatened species.


A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:

There are a variety of wetlands at the Rice Rivers Center. Atlantic Sturgeon, a federally endangered species occurs in the James River at the center.


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

There are no specific plans in effect other than the continued adherence to the terms of the conservation easement placed on some of the center's acreage.


The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Sent email with attachement to Len Smock 7/13/15 per conversation with Anne Wright.


Sent email with attachement to Len Smock 7/13/15 per conversation with Anne Wright.

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