Overall Rating	Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison	Lindsey Van Zile
Submission Date	Sept. 13, 2019

STARS v2.2

Randolph College
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	Reporter	Allison Brooks Sustainability Coordinator Buildings & Grounds

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Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, 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:

Randolph College owns three small (5-10 acre) nature preserves donated by several private parties. Each was donated with the condition that they are never developed.

Endangered and vulnerable species

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution?:

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:

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Areas of biodiversity importance

Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:

Yes

A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:

Randolph College also developed a protected botanic garden. The botanic garden was dedicated to Dorothy Bliss in May 2008. The Dorothy Crandall Bliss Botanic Garden now contains nearly 200 species of plants native to the southeastern United States. The garden includes several endangered and rare plants as well as species of special botanical interest, such as the Ben Franklin Tree which is no longer found in the wild. The outdoor showcase and laboratory of wildflowers and plants serves as an educational tool for students and visitors alike to increase their interest in nature, conservation, gardening, botanical and zoological research.

Methodologies

If yes to either of the above, provide the following:

The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:

Randolph College Biology Department has been conducting studies on the College owned land every year for the past 15 years to survey and assess species diversity. Several species found were rare and protected, so appropriate flags have been placed where these species are located in order to protect them from foot traffic.

A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):

All three properties and back campus are included in the assessments.

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

Randolph College owns more undeveloped land than developed land. Most of the undeveloped land is protected by academic programs that use the forested areas for non-intrusive research only (e.g.: study of beech nut production based on nut samples, tree growth measurement, and weather data).

Also, some parts of campus have received NWF "Wildlife Habitat" designation because they provide the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive (food, water, cover, and places to raise young).

Randolph College was recently certified as a Bee Campus and is developing a campus habitat plan to protect native pollinators and pollinator-friendly plants.

Optional Fields

Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :

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Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:

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Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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