| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.11 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Malcolm |
| Submission Date | Jan. 19, 2023 |
Virginia Wesleyan University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.19 / 2.00 |
Skyler
Lattuca Horticulturalist Facilities |
Total campus area:
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides | 147 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 3 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 100 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 250 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
The footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces such as parking lots and roads were not included in this calculation.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
The forest around campus is regularly maintained, but only to preserve the trails that pass through it. Standard pruning and debris removal is done periodically, but otherwise the forest is allowed to grow on its own. The only materials used to maintain this area are standard pruning tools.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
On the VWU campus there is a 3 acre native plant garden that is maintained following an IPM plan through the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Most of the maintenance done is manual, though the use of herbicides is allowed under a few circumstances including for the targeted removal of invasive species and during the summer months when staff is limited and heat intensity restricts the amount of physical labor possible. Insecticides have only been used once on-site to protect our endangered species from an outbreak of invasive pests, and application was limited to only those endangered species (longleaf pines and white ash). Herbicides/Insecticides are never applied within 3 days of an anticipated rain event and are prohibited within 15 feet of the stormwater BPMs or any drainage channels in the area. In the past, alternative practices have been used to remove large plots of plant matter, such as applying a layer of cardboard and mulch to smother lawn that would be converted into a garden space, or to repel unwanted species from seeding in, such as utilizing native groundcovers to reduce the amount of weeds present.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.