Land Management

UNC Charlotte’s campus size is approximately 1000 acres.  Of this, approximately 350 acres are woods, 147 acres are built environment, 34 acres are surface lot parking spaces and approximately 470 acres are recreational, athletic fields and managed landscape.

Sustainable Practices: mulching, rain sensors/drip irrigation, on site plant growing, integrated pest management plan

The UNC Charlotte grounds department is responsible for maintaining the recreation and athletic fields, planted and grassed areas surrounding buildings, and the botanical gardens.  This maintenance includes:

• Mowing
• Seeding
• Irrigation
• Plantings
• Fertilizing
• Repair
• Equipment maintenance

Through the leadership of the Grounds Supervisor, a number of best practice initiatives have been implemented outlined below.

• Grounds places an estimated 8000 cubic yards of mulch per annum on campus to improve soil quality, reduce watering needs and improve weed prevention, which leads to the reduction of herbicide use on campus.
• Field and plant irrigation practices use a significant amount of water.  The UNC Charlotte grounds department has undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce the amount of irrigated water used on campus; the entire campus irrigation system has been upgraded to use rain sensor and drip irrigation technology.
• Onsite growing facilities reduces the need to transport plants
• The Grounds department has developed and implemented an integrated pest management plan that addresses:
• Chemical application frequencies
• Using lower toxic chemicals
• Equipment maintenance

Conservation

A campus tree replacement program is ongoing on campus.  To date, 250 trees have been replaced between 2007 and 2008.

The UNC Charlotte Campus Botanic Gardens exist to “promote the knowledge and appreciation of plants for educational, environmental and aesthetic purposes.” (UNC 2009).  Since the Gardens inception in 1966 they have served as a living classroom for students and as a horticulture and botanical resource for the campus and greater community.  The botanical gardens comprise of three distinct areas; the McMillan Green House, the Susie Harwood Garden and Van Landingham Glen.  The Van Landingham Glen contains over 1000 species of plants native to the Carolinas.