| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.80 |
| Liaison | Daniela Beall |
| Submission Date | Sept. 29, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
OP-11: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Laurie
Case Sustainability & Strategic Planning Coordinator Chancellor's Office |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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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, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
Yes
None
A brief description of any legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance on institution owned or managed land:
The Cofrin Center for Biodiversity manages over 12,000 acres across 5 natural areas located in Brown, Door, and Manitowoc Counties.
Our Natural Areas program began in 1971 when UW Green Bay faculty and staff recommended the development of a park-like arboretum and trail system around the periphery of campus. In 1975 the children and grandchildren of Dr. Austin Cofrin created an endowment in Austin Cofrin's memory that allowed the university to develop a system of trails, plantings, purchase additional property, and to continue to improve the botanical offerings of the arboretum. At the time their generous gift was made, the donation from the Cofrin children was the largest donation ever given to a University of Wisconsin institution outside of the Madison campus.
UW Green Bay aquired its first off-campus natural area property in 1968 when conservationist Emma Toft donated her family lake-front property, Toft Point, to The Nature Conservancy who then turned the property over to UW Green Bay. Since then, UW Green Bay aquired and additional 3 properties and extensive additions to the original arboretum property as gifts or by purchase. Each property features at least one unique natural community, including hardwood and conifer forest, inland or shorelines, dune ridge and swale, Lake Michigan cobble and dune shoreline, prairie, oak savanna, and Niagara escarpment .
Our natural areas and an associated granting program provide an outstanding educational and scientific opportunity as "living laboratories" where our students and faculty can conduct original ecological and policy based research.
- See more at: http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/natural-areas/#sthash.RXzD8SGZ.dpuf
None
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes
None
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Yes
None
The methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Scientists associated with the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity are actively engaged in research programs and regularly publish their research in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Faculty associated with the center teach a wide variety of hands on environmental science and biology courses including travel courses to Panama, Costa Rica, and soon to Australia. - See more at: http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/research/people.asp#sthash.SnFN2O1w.dpuf
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A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
The Center supports several ongoing research projects in Wisconsin, including the longest annual survey of breeding birds in the Nicolet National Forest and a Forest Dynamics Research Plot near Crandon, WI. Every year students conduct research on our 5 natural areas in northeastern WI. Currently students are studying bluebirds, forest ecology, soil and plant interactions, and mammals through the Cofrin Research Grants program. Other students are conducting research on invasive plants in the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Brown County. Other research projects in Wisconsin include surveys of spiders and native bees, longterm monitoring of bats on the Cofrin Arboretum, Birds in the Nicolet National Forest, goshawks in northern Wisconsin, and nesting of colonial birds in the bay of Green Bay. - See more at: http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/research/places.asp#sthash.CvOEsewW.dpuf
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A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
UW - Green Bay's Cofrin Center for Biodiversity manages five natural areas in Northeastern Wisconsin, including the on-campus Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, Kingfisher Farm, Peninsula Center, Point au Sable, and Toft Point. These areas protect our local biodiversity, provide natural laboratories for students and faculty to study our local ecology, and offer opportunities for everyone to enjoy some of Wisconsin's best natural places.
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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