Virginia Tech
OP-T2-20: Wildlife Habitat

The Campus Design Principles prepared by Sasaki Associates (Revised August 2010) contains the following reference to wildlife habitat protection and creation: ‘Champion Natural Habitats: Enhance habitat diversity through open space preservation and the selection of native vegetation. Redevelop sites to regenerate natural habitats.’ The Design Principles also define a goal to reforest approximately 350 acres of land, 80 of which are currently turf grass. These areas will create new wildlife habitat and protect campus waterways. Beginning in 2007, perimeter areas of campus lawn were converted to native grass and wildflower meadow, creating wildlife habitat. In the past year, acreage around a new facility that was previously a corn field was planted with native grasses and wildflowers. Related to reforestation, in the past year, several acres of campus have been upgraded to mimic a forest condition with native trees and wood chip mulched surface. Specifically the new agri-biosciences building replaced a section of surface parking lot with native trees and plants with forest floor (wood chip) surface. A grove of native shade trees located in lawn in the core campus was converted to wood chip surface to mimic a forest floor condition and improve wildlife habitat as well as storm water infiltration.

See pages 17, 23, and 31 in the above link.