| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.83 |
| Liaison | C Jane Hagen |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Virginia Commonwealth University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Joseph
Costa Sustainability Projects and Program Coordinator 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, and/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:
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 (including migratory 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
If yes to either of the above, provide the following:
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, are 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:
Much of our research focuses on large river ecosystems, their riparian habitats and associated wetlands. Our unique location on a tidal freshwater section of the James River helps us specialize in multiple areas of study: wetlands restoration, anadromous fishes, nutrient dynamics and plankton in river food chains, the ecology of freshwater tidal creeks and public health issues concerning waterborne disease.
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.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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