Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 86.35
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date March 3, 2022

STARS v2.2

Cornell University
IN-50: Innovation D

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 0.50 Sarah Carson
Director, Campus Sustainability Office
FS - Energy & Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Cornell Botanic Buzzline

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
Cornell students, Cornell Botanic Gardens staff, and researchers at campus pollinator labs worked to build Botanic Buzzline, a 980 square foot flowering pathway that works to protect native biodiversity and educate visitors about pollinator decline. Buzzline utilizes many educational tools on how to protect pollinators, such as the guide “Tips for a Pollinator-Friendly Garden.” Development of the pathway was made possible by a series of community-wide events, including soil prep days, planting days, and sign development and installation events. The pathway helps to connect pollinators between flowering sites to assure that they have an adequate food supply along the way. The Buzzline utilized sustainable gardening practices including sheet-mulching instead of toxic pesticides, as well as only planted native and naturalized plant varieties so they would better support local pollinators.

Optional Fields

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
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The website URL where information about the programs or 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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