OP 10: Landscape Management

Transcription

1 OP 10: Landscape Management 2 points available A. Credit Rationale This credit recognizes institutions that manage their grounds sustainably. Sustainable landscape management integrates economic, social, and ecological considerations to meet human needs and maintain healthy ecosystems. B. Criteria Institution s grounds include areas that are managed at one or more of the following levels: 1) Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan 2) Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program And/or 3) Organic, certified and/or protected The level at which an area of grounds is managed may be determined as outlined in the table on the following page. Land that meets multiple criteria should not be double-counted. An area of grounds that does not meet the standards specified for a particular management level should be reported at the next appropriate level for which it does meet the standards. For example, a landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and meets some, but not all, of the other standards listed for a sustainable landscape management plan should be reported at level 1 (IPM Plan). C. Applicability This credit applies to all institutions with managed grounds comprising one or more percent of the total area of the campus. STARS 2.0 Technical Manual 171 OP

2 Management Level Standards and/or Certifications Required 1) IPM Plan IPM plan calls for: Using least-toxic chemical pesticides, Minimum use of chemicals, and Use of chemicals only in targeted locations and only for targeted species 2) Sustainable Landscape Management Program The program includes formally adopted guidelines, policies and/or practices that cover ALL of the following: Integrated Pest Management (see above) Plant stewardship - protecting and using existing vegetation (e.g. through the use of a tree care plan), using native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controlling and managing invasive species Soil stewardship - organic soils management practices that restore and/or maintain a natural nutrient cycle and limit the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemicals Use of environmentally preferable materials - utilizing reused, recycled and local and sustainably produced landscape materials Hydrology and water use - restoring and/or maintaining the integrity of the natural hydrology by promoting water infiltration, minimizing or eliminating the use of potable water for irrigation, and protecting/restoring riparian, wetland, and shoreline habitats and lost streams Materials management and waste minimization - composting and/or mulching waste from groundskeeping, including grass trimmings Snow and ice management (if applicable) - implementing technologies or strategies to reduce the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal 3) Organic, Certified and/or Protected Protected areas and land that is: Maintained in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials Certified Organic Certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Management standard Certified under the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES ) And/or Managed specifically for carbon sequestration (as documented in policies, land management plans or the equivalent) STARS 2.0 Technical Manual 172 OP

3 D. Scoring Institutions earn the maximum of 2 points available for this credit when 100 percent of campus grounds are managed organically, third party certified and/or formally protected. Incremental points are available based on the percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM plan, managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program and/or organic/certified/protected. Scoring for this credit is based on the total area of managed grounds (total campus area minus the footprint of the institution s buildings and the area of any undeveloped land that is not formally protected). Points earned are calculated according to the following table: Enter values as indicated below to calculate points earned for this credit Points will be calculated automatically when data are entered in the STARS online Reporting Tool Management Level Factor Multiply Area of Managed at Each Level Divide Total Area of Managed Equals Points Earned 1) IPM Plan 1 2) Sustainable Landscape Management Program 3) Organic, Certified and/or Protected = Total Points STARS 2.0 Technical Manual 173 OP

4 Scoring Example: Landscape Management The total campus area of Example University comprises 50 acres, all of which have been developed, and includes 10 acres dedicated to buildings. The remaining 40 acres of grounds are managed by three separate departments: Athletics, Housing, and Facilities Management. The Athletics department manages 5 acres of grounds using conventional landscape management techniques and does not follow an IPM plan or program. The Housing department, which manages 10 acres of grounds, follows an IPM plan. The Facilities Management department manages 24 acres following a formal sustainable landscape management program. Facilities Management also oversees a 1 acre campus garden that is managed without the use of any inorganic fertilizers or chemicals. Management Level Factor Multiply Area of Managed at Each Level Divide Total Area of Managed Equals Points Earned 1) IPM Plan ) Sustainable Landscape Management Program 3) Organic, Certified and/or Protected = Total Points 1.2 STARS 2.0 Technical Manual 174 OP

5 E. Reporting Fields Required Total campus area (acres/hectares) Footprint of the institution s buildings (acres/hectares) Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas (acres/hectares) Area of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM plan (acres/hectares) Area of grounds managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program (acres/hectares) Area of grounds that is managed organically, third party certified and/or protected (acres/hectares) An affirmation that the submitted information is accurate to the best of a responsible party s knowledge and contact information for the responsible party. The responsible party should be a staff member, faculty member, or administrator who can respond to questions regarding the data once submitted and available to the public. Conditional Required if the institution is reporting land that is managed in accordance with an IPM plan and/or a sustainable landscape management program: The IPM plan (text or PDF upload) Required if the institution is reporting land that is managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program and/or managed organically, third party certified and/or formally protected: A brief summary of the institution s approach to sustainable landscape management A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species A brief description of the institution s organic soils management practices A brief description of the institution s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus A brief description of the institution s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices (including composting and mulching on-site waste) Optional A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable) A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas (if applicable) An indication of whether institution has been recognized by the Arbor Day STARS 2.0 Technical Manual 175 OP

6 Foundation s Tree Campus USA program (if applicable) The website URL where information about the institution s sustainable landscape management programs and practices is available Notes about the submission F. Measurement Timeframe Report on current program(s) and practices. Sampling and Data Standards An institution may exclude experimental agricultural land, provided it is excluded from both the total campus area and the area of grounds managed sustainably. STARS 2.0 Technical Manual 176 OP