A good Schoolyard Habitat project is ecologically sound, integrated into the curriculum and designed to encourage long-term stewardship. For a project to be sustainable, it must have active engagement from the larger school community, including parents, students, maintenance personnel and administrators. Ecologically sound Schoolyard Habitat projects provide habitat for local and migratory wildlife, including songbirds, shorebirds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. In many cases, these habitats also provide a vegetative buffer to nearby streams, reducing pollution reaching these waterways. To benefit the environment, the habitats must be significant enough in size and scope to have a lasting impact in the community.