Nature positive: a future goal for golf
Nature positive is the term that the global golf industry should take a closer look at. It has been playing a key role for days at the COP currently taking place in Colombia. At its core, nature positive refers to the goal of halting and reversing the loss of nature by 2030. The aim is to achieve a complete recovery of nature by 2050, using 2020 as the starting point. This goal was first formulated in 2020 after leading global research institutes, nature conservation organizations and companies had worked on it. In December 2022, this target was also set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Golf scores with large areas
“Golf is good for biodiversity” is not just a slogan used by the R&A, one of the world’s leading golf organizations, on its posters. In fact, increasing biodiversity is one of the greatest ways in which golf can benefit the community. Due to the extensive, purely natural areas of a golf course and the comparatively small actual playing area, the possibilities for enhancing the extensive areas outside of fairways and greens are high. In recent years, numerous scientists have looked into the possibilities of ecological optimization, and cooperation between environmental organizations is becoming increasingly popular. The goal of becoming a nature-positive sport is certainly easier for golf to achieve than carbon neutrality. However, the commitment to pursuing the nature positive goal means more than just following a simple slogan. “Nature positive is not a slogan – it is an ambitious goal that should not be used to sell something as green or close to nature.” This is how the organizations and scientists responsible for implementation and research put it. “Nature positive refers to measurable results that serve to halt and reverse the loss of nature so that society benefits.” https://golfsustainable.com/faktencheck-artenvielfalt-mit-alarmierendem-ergebnis/
Definition of an international standard
The measurability of biodiversity is therefore becoming a key issue, including for golf courses. The international scientific community is no different to the golf industry – there is currently no uniform standard for measuring biodiversity. In fact, there are over 440 international measurement practices for biodiversity on land alone. For this reason, a uniform standard is currently being developed and is in the coordination phase. As soon as it is on the table, all industries worldwide will be able to use it as a guide.
Nature as an integral part of sport
In general, however, golf has the opportunity to score points in the service of the social community and to commit to a concrete and measurable goal more than almost any other leisure industry in the context of the biodiversity crisis. As the topic of nature is also positively received by golfers themselves and the recreational effect of sport in an active natural environment plays an important role, the realization of this on the individual golf courses should also be supported by the membership. As always, when it comes to measurable data, the process is likely to be costly in terms of both time and money. “Constantly measuring the changes in the state of nature is essential to document positive results,” explain the 28 organizations working on setting the standard. These include only internationally recognized names such as the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the WWF. It is not yet clear exactly when those responsible at Nature Positive will publish the standard for measuring biodiversity. However, the process should be closely monitored by the golf industry. It could turn the slogan “Golf is good for biodiversity” into the fact “Golf is nature positive”. https://golfsustainable.com/pestizidrisikostudio-legt-datendilemma-offen/
