Restore Habitat Using Turf

Kristina K

LEEDuser Basic Member

17 thumbs up

January 25, 2022

Hello,

The 'Vegetation' component for this credit is to plant a minimum of 6 species that are native or adapted. If the 7th species is not native or adaptive (turf), can it still contribute to the overall restored area of 15%? Would this approach still meet the intent of the credit - provide habitat and promote biodiversity?

Appreciate the insight.

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Iris Meeker

Director of Sustainability

Walker Architects

LEEDuser Premium Member

3 thumbs up

Wed, 03/16/2022 - 15:37

I have this same question. Can turf grass be categorized as adapted vegetation? The turf we are using is not native but it is adapted in the way of being able to live in the ecoregion - it is drought tolerant, not requiring irrigation. Can turf be accounted for as an adapted species - ground cover? We have mostly native species in our project but there is an area of turf grass and we were unsure if we are able to include this in our vegetation calculations towards meeting the restored area %.

Adolfo Salas

Merrick & Company

LEEDuser Premium Member

0 thumbs up

Fri, 05/05/2023 - 13:27

Did anyone very receive an answer to these awesome questions?

Summer Minchew

Managing Partner

Ecoimpact Consulting

LEEDuser Expert

171 thumbs up

Fri, 05/05/2023 - 14:04

The LEEDv4.1 Reference Guide points teams to the LEED v4 requirements except for explicility stated additions and modifications. So when you reference the v4 requirements, they state, "Lawns (turf grasses) qualify as adapted vegetation only if they are able to survive without mowing, fertilization, pesticides, and irrigation." If your turf does not meet these requirements it does not qualify.