Image by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin.
In 2018 UMass Lowell worked with the Ecological Extension Service (EES) of Mass Audubon on a project to better follow AASHE STARS' reporting criteria for biodiversity.
This project both assessed biodiversity on campus and identified endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) that have habitats on institution owned or managed land.
What Is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of species that live together in an area. The higher the biodiversity, the greater the chance that the ecosystem can withstand stresses such as temperature fluctuations, flooding, pollution, and drought. In other words, the higher the biodiversity, the stronger the ecosystem, and also the more interesting it is to go outside and observe our neighboring species!
Our Location
UMass Lowell's campus is adjacent to the Merrimack River. The Merrimack River is one of the three most important large rivers on the East Coast in its conservation value to migratory river herring and one of the six most important for 12 migratory fish species. The Merrimack watershed (the area where water flows from land into a river) also supports at least 75 state and federally-listed endangered species, numerous pairs of bald eagles, the largest tidal marsh habitat in New England, and a portion of the Eastern United States' Atlantic Flyway bird migration route.
What Can You Do To Help?
- Don't litter, and help to clean up whenever you can! If you find an unsafe object please call the UMass Lowell Police Department by phone at: 978-934-2398.
- Stay on designated trails whenever possible, to prevent erosion and damage to local ecosystems.
- Help volunteer with invasive species removal or ecological restoration projects.
- Take time to get to know the local species on campus in a respectful fashion!