UF becomes first university in world to win Audubon Sanctuary status

October 10, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System has designated the University of Florida as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary,” the first university to achieve this status, and one of 607 such sanctuaries in the world.

“The University of Florida has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program,” said Jeremy Taylor, staff ecologist for ACSS, the educational division of Audubon International. “They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on their property. By taking action to implement indoor and outdoor conservation projects, the management and staff at the University of Florida have demonstrated their commitment to the sustainable management of their natural resources.”

To achieve the designation, the university had to demonstrate it was maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in five areas: environmental planning, wildlife habitat management, resource conservation, waste management and outreach and education.

Fred H. Cantrell, associate vice president for finance and administration, said he was struck by the natural beauty of the campus as a young boy, and he was concerned years later as an adult working for the university about the rapid development of the campus.

“While I realized this growth was necessary and served a great need, I also knew that the campus would be a desolate and spiritless place if it lost the beauty of its setting. Fortunately, countless other people felt as I did,” he said.

The university developed a master plan that emphasizes the values of academic excellence, sustainability and community partnership. “What the university was doing seemed to fit almost seamlessly with the goals and objectives of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program,” added Cantrell, who organized the effort to win recognition for UF.

Cantrell said many people contributed to the success of the endeavor, but he singled out the following for special recognition: Mark Clark, Linda Dixon, Alex Holecek, Mark Hostetler, Erick Smith, Kim Tanzer and Jan Weinbrecht.

Tanzer, president of the Faculty Senate, credited Cantrell for seeking the Audubon status.

“He initiated the process to certify the campus, developed a committee to provide oversight, and worked to coordinate the university’s efforts to complete the complex and rigorous multiphased application process,” Tanzer said. “Without Fred, it would not have happened.”

UF recently announced it will open an Office of Sustainability designed to fuse efforts to make campus practices environmentally friendly with an interdisciplinary academic emphasis on sustainability. An executive director for the new office will be hired in November.

“It seems beyond dispute to me that to preserve our Earth, we have to consider how we treat every acre of it. This is and hopefully will remain a commitment of the University of Florida,” Cantrell said.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs provide information and guidance to help businesses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Businesses, schools, golf courses and back yards in the United States, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe and Southeast Asia also have achieved certification.