Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 46.29
Liaison Thomas Frazer
Submission Date March 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of South Florida
OP-10: Biodiversity

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Suchi Daniels
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Management
"---" 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, 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:
he Greenway has been incrementally developed through the phased implementation of the stormwater management plan, the implementation of related landscape improvements, development of built edges through decisive placement of future buildings along the edges of the Greenway, and completion of circulation routes linking one area of the Greenway to another. These efforts have resulted in linking habitat islands, reducing heat islands, improving students’ direct relationship with local flora and fauna, and providing increased opportunities for both active and passive recreation and improved pedestrian flow. In addition, parts of the Greenway (especially the recreational forest, and Botanical Garden) actively sequester carbon dioxide and thus provide offsets for the campus’ carbon footprint. In addition to the USF main campus, the university owns 735 acres north of Fletcher Ave., which includes the USF Forest Preserve and "The Claw at USF" golf course.

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?:
Yes

A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
The USF Forest Preserve preserves the last remaining sizable patch of sandhill habitat in the area. Many species of animals and plants that depend on this kind of habitat and are present in the preserve would otherwise be absent from a substantial area. Second, the preserve is near the edge of a substantial “island” of undeveloped land that is surrounded by increasing urbanization.

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:
The USF Forest Preserve is over 500-acre plot of wetland and sandhill habitat. It is home to a variety of plants and animals, many of whom are threatened or endangered and also several that are fire-dependent. Part of the area is routinely burned in order to conduct research on ecological succession. The forest has two primary functions: research and teaching.

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:
USF Faculty, researchsers, and student
Outside conulstant, Heidt Engineering
The USF Forest Preserve is over 500-acre plot of wetland and sandhill habitat. It is home to a variety of plants and animals, many of whom are threatened or endangered and also several that are fire-dependent. Part of the area is routinely burned in order to conduct research on ecological succession. The forest has two primary functions: research and teaching.

A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
In 2022, USF hired a consultant, Heidt, to assess the Forest Preserve. Report has been uploaded,

A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The USF Tampa Facility and Campus includes a private riverfront park and conservation land for wetland research. The USF Ecological Research Area (EcoArea)
is a 500-acre plot of wetland and sandhill habitat. It is home to a variety of plants and animals, many of whom are threatened or endangered and also several that
are fire-dependent. Part of the area is routinely burned in order to conduct research on ecological succession. The EcoArea has two primary functions: research
and teaching. Additionally, there are other natural areas of campus that support wildlife which are protected and included in the campus Greenway and Botanical
Gardens. Protective policies are included in the Conservation section of the Tampa Campus Master Plan. Please see: http://psgs.usf.edu/usf-office-ofsustainability/
initiatives/designed-environment/ http://www.usforacle.com/renovations-pave-way-for-usf-golf-1.1764925?
SPSID=56334&SPID=5851&DB_OEM_ID=7700 http://www.usforacle.com/navigating-the-hillsborough-river-1.2666113#.Up-NKcRDvh4
http://www.usforacle.com/tampa-s-trails-1.2086209#.Up-NyMRDvh4

Optional Fields

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

Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
http://facilities.cas.usf.edu/forestpreserve/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
USFN_EA_Rpt.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
list of uploaded documents:
Annotated Bibliography of Selected Literature on the USF Forest P'
ForestPreserve-WhitePaper
Guiding Principles Document_FINAL
North Fletcher Property Recommendations_4FEB22
USFN EA Rpt

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.