Recognizing biodiversity conservation as a sustainability initiative on the college campus: How the STARS system rates species decline

Background/Question/Methods Sustainability has become part of the mission of many colleges and universities. A rapidly growing number of schools measure their progress using the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), launched in 2010. Similarly, conservation of biological diversity has become a major motivation for science, directed toward sustainable ecosystems and their services, species, and populations. In 2000 the Gran Canaria Declaration concluded that two thirds of Earth’s plant species are in danger of extinction by 2100, and in 2002 the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation summarized the drivers of species decline and recommended urgent action. This study examines how sustainability programs have engaged plant conservation. First, it measures how STARS assigns credit to various drivers of species decline identified in the Global Strategy. Second, it identifies specific initiatives that could help implement the Global Strategy and make species conservation part of the lexicon of sustainability on campus.

Results/Conclusions

In the STARS rating system for physical plant operations, campus responses to climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation are thoroughly credited. However, the system provides almost no credit for actions in response to habitat loss and invasive species, two of the major drivers of species extinction. Out of 100 campus operations credits, a school can earn 1 credit for habitat initiatives (¼ each for planting native species, xeriscaping, managing trees, and protecting habitat). In contrast, 33 credits are available for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and credits for the use of renewable energy sources don’t require efforts to minimize possible impacts of these energy sources on ecosystems. Several campus initiatives can help implement the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. At Green Mountain College, these include invasive species management, restoration projects, and native species landscaping. The visibility and viability of programs like these will improve if they are recognized as sustainability initiatives by STARS and similar rating systems. The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) will help demonstrate how this can be done, as it aims to certify land actions that promote plant conservation, similar to LEED certification for buildings.