Sport and Biodiversity

International Union for Conservation of Nature

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https://twitter.com/IUCN/Sport and Biodiversity

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Citation:Sport and Biodiversity, (2018). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. viii+24pp.

ISBN:

978-2-8317-1893-4

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2018.04.en

Cover photo:

Trail running in the forest © iStock

Layout by:

Imre Sebestyén jr / Unit Graphics

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Table of Contents

Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
1.1 Objectives and scope of this guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Biodiversity and ecosystems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 Biodiversity and sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4 The business case for sport and biodiversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2Managing the impacts of sports venues and sporting events on biodiversity .  5
2.1 Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 Impacts linked to sports venues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.3 Impacts linked to the organisation of sporting events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.4 Mitigating biodiversity impacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3

Maximising opportunities for biodiversity conservation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.1 Enhance, restore, and reconnect natural habitats in urban environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.2 Increase the area under protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.3 Generate funds for financing protected areas management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.4 Raise public awareness about biodiversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.5 Increase the available biodiversity data and knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.6 Generate biodiversity benefits through carbon offsets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

4

An action checklist to mitigate risk and leverage opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . 17

5

Glossary and resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.1 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.2 Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Sport and Biodiversityiii

Foreword
With the world population expected to reach 9billion by 2030, our natural environment is facing
unprecedented pressures due to human activity.
But let us be clear: we need nature. Today, we
are in a race to safeguard the rich ecosystems
that provide us with food, water and shelter. And
there is growing evidence that suggests that justspending time in nature – including for outdoor
sports activities – can significantly enhance ourhealth and well-being.
The sport industry also needs nature. Whether it isskiing, canoeing, hiking or cycling, sports activities
depend on a healthy environment.
At the same time, sport facilities such as footballstadiums and ski resorts – and the sheer number ofspectators at mega sport events – have a significant
impact on the environment. The sport industry has
a responsibility – as well as an interest – in ensuringthat its operations are sustainable.
This IUCN guide, Sport and Biodiversity, highlights
how sport federations, local organising committees,
investors, athletes and fans can help reduce theindustry’s environmental footprint. From restoring
degraded land to supporting protected areas,
the industry can contribute to conservation andraise awareness among its spectators about theinvaluable benefits that nature provides.

iv

Furthermore, collective action by the industry cancontribute to global efforts to achieve the goals
set out in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, which
recognises sport as ‘an important enabler ofsustainable development’.
This guide is the first in a series of publications
that will be produced under the IUCN-International
Olympic Committee partnership. It provides an
overview of the linkages between biodiversity andsports for developers of sports infrastructure andevent organisers, outlining steps they can take toreduce the negative impacts on nature, from theirvenue planning and construction to the actual
operations and the legacy they leave behind.
The guide also explains why ignoring biodiversity
impacts can pose a number of business risks to
the industry.
IUCN is proud to team up with the International
Olympic Committee. We look forward tostrengthening the links between the sports andconservation communities to address one ofour most important challenges of our time –safeguarding our planet. This is a race we cannot
afford to lose.
Inger Andersen, Director General,
International Union for Conservation of Nature

Sport and Biodiversity

Foreword
Sport takes place in all kinds of environments, frommarine and natural wetlands, to urban parklands,
forests, mountains and even deserts. In all thesesituations sport has a strong connection withbiodiversity. Indeed, any natural site, or greenspaceused for sport will have some interaction withbiodiversity, and with careful management these
sport places can potentially be even more valuableas sanctuaries for many kinds of wild plants andanimals.
Sport parks in urban areas can also support a wide
range of biodiversity, and they play a vital role asneighbourhood greenspaces, offering community
benefits beyond their sporting function. Sportbuildings – stadia and sports halls – can be part ofcity greening initiatives, from green roofs and walls,
to surrounding landscaping and drainage systems.
Some city centre sports facilities have gone to theextent of having their own organic food growing
areas and beehives.

The IOC is therefore delighted to have formed apartnership with the International Union for theConservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s premierorganisation for biodiversity conservation. Our
mutual goal is to work together to foster better
understanding and protection of biodiversity
through sport.
This guide produced by IUCN is an example ofour partnership in action. It provides an excellent
overview of the synergies between sport andbiodiversity and is a valuable complement to ourown Sustainability Strategy arising from Olympic
Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap.
We hope it will inform and inspire everyone in the
sporting world to take a closer look at how their sport
activities interact with the natural environment, andwhat they can do to foster biodiversity conservation.
Christophe de Kepper, Director General,
International Olympic Committee

Looking beyond the physical footprint of sport
places, the sport sector can have a considerable
impact on biodiversity through the goods andmaterials it purchases and greenhouse gas
emissions from day-to-day activities.
Therefore, whatever the specific context, we
believe that everyone in the sporting community
has an important duty of care – or stewardship –towards the natural environment and for protecting
biodiversity. It is part of our natural world and a vital
part of what makes sport so special.

Sport and Biodiversityv

Executive summary
Sport can have significant negative impacts on
biodiversity, through the construction and use of
sports venues and the staging of sporting events.
This guide is designed to help decision makers understand these potential impacts, and to present
options for mitigating them, as well as for maximising opportunities to use sport as a way to promoteand enhance biodiversity conservation.
Biological diversity, or biodiversity in short, is defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity
as the ‘.. variability among living organisms fromall sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine,and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecologicalcomplexes of which they are a part; this includes
diversity within species, between species, and of
ecosystems’.
Biodiversity supports valuable ecosystem services
that are essential for the survival and healthy functioning of human society and its economic activities.
However, despite this, human activity is leading toan alarming, and increasing, rate of biodiversity loss
across the world’s ecosystems.

viSport can negatively impact biodiversity throughland use to build permanent or temporary sports
venues and facilities, as well as through the pollution, noise, waste, lighting, traffic, and resource demand resulting from the staging of sporting events
attended by hundreds or thousands of spectators.
At the same time, sport, through its global reach,can be an important catalyst for raising awarenessabout the need for biodiversity conservation, andpromoting and supporting efforts to enhance biodiversity.
Understanding and managing the potential negative impacts and opportunities for conservation isvital for ensuring that sports venues and sporting
events deliver successfully both from the financial
and operational standpoint. Unmanaged or poorly
managed biodiversity impacts can lead to financial, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks.
On the other hand, timely and effective action to
mitigate risks and enhance conservation can help
venues and event planners and organisers increase
their social license to operate, more easily attract
future sporting events, establish long-term positive
relationships with communities and the media, andattract sponsors.

Sport and Biodiversity

Mitigating negative impacts on biodiversity

The construction of new sports venues, the installation of temporary venues and associated facilities,
and the use and refurbishment of existing venues
can all impact on biodiversity. The type of risks andopportunities will vary, depending mainly on thelocation of the venue (i.e. whether it is sited in an
urban area or in the natural environment, and theimportance of that environment for biodiversity) andon its size. While the impacts may be broader, more
severe, and more obvious in a natural, undevelopedarea, where it is often necessary to construct accessroads, power supply infrastructure, and water andsewer infrastructure (amongst others), there are alsorisks to developing in urban areas, where many species make their homes within the built environment.
The staging of sporting events in both urban andnatural settings can impact biodiversity through thepresence of large numbers of spectators, who increase noise, vibration, pollution, waste generation,and traffic. Other risks to biodiversity from sporting
events include oil or fuel spills, sewage discharge,
light pollution, increased use of chemicals and fertilisers, and increased demand for natural resources.
To address these potential impacts, developers
should first comply with all legal and statutory requirements relating to biodiversity. Beyond compliance, the recommended way to manage biodiversity impacts effectively is through the mitigation
hierarchy of avoidance, minimisation, restoration,and offsetting of residual impacts. Preventive mitigation measures (avoidance and minimisation) arealways preferable to corrective measures (restoration and offsets).

Maximising opportunities for biodiversity conservation

Sporting events and their associated facilities canleverage opportunities to promote and support biodiversity conservation through a variety of activities
and initiatives, including:•enhancing natural habitats in urban environments by restoring degraded sites, connecting
fragmented habitats, building ‘green’ rooftops
and living walls, installing man-made habitats
for wildlife, increasing the diversity of plant species, and incorporating plantings in their project
design that provide additional habitat and benefits to local fauna and flora;•increasing the area under protection throughon-site or off-site protection of natural features;•

generating funds and increasing awarenessfor protected area management by staging
low-impact sporting events, such as running or

mountain biking, within or partially within protected areas;•

raising public awareness about biodiversity
through the use of biodiversity elements as
mascots or as part of an event’s logo, and thecreation of public exhibits and educational programs, as well as through sports commentators and individual, high-profile athletes;•

increasing available knowledge and data by
sharing biodiversity inventories and baseline information that may be required as part of venue
development with conservation organisations
and research institutions; and•generating biodiversity benefits through projects designed to offset the carbon footprint ofa venue or event.

View over a rainforest, El Yunque, Puerto Rico © iStockSport and Biodiversity

vii

1
viii

Cross-Country Ski Racer © iStockSport and Biodiversity

1. Introduction
1.1 Objectives and scope of this guide

The objectives of this guide are to:•explain what biodiversity is and how it can be
impacted by the construction of sports venues
and the staging of sporting events;•

present ways of mitigating potential negative
impacts on biodiversity from sport; and•highlight the biodiversity opportunities available
to the sports community.

The guide has been written for all sport-related decision makers, from city authorities, who are key
players in the development of new venues andbidding for sporting events, to planners, architects,
and engineers tasked with choosing the locationand the design and construction or refurbishmentof sports venues; from venue owners/operators toregional government officials; and from national andinternational sports federations to Local Organising
Committees (LOCs) responsible for the planningand staging of events.
The topics presented in this guide are relevant
to local and international events, small and mega-events, indoor and outdoor sports, summer
and winter sports, temporary infrastructure, refurbishment of existing venues, and the constructionof new, permanent venues.

1.2 Biodiversity and ecosystems

Biological diversity, or biodiversity in short, is defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity
as the ‘.. variability among living organisms fromall sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marineand other aquatic ecosystems and the ecologicalcomplexes of which they are a part; this includes
diversity within species, between species and of
ecosystems’.

Provisioning
Servicesare the material benefits
people get from ecosystems
for e.g. supply of food, water,
fibers, wood and fuels.

Regulating
Servicesare the benefits obtained fromthe regulation of ecosystemprocesses e.g. the regulationof air quality and soil fertility,
control of floods or croppollination.

Biodiversity, and the life-sustaining ecological processes it enables and maintains, is the basis of innumerable ecosystem services that are essential for thesurvival of every individual and for the functioning ofsociety and all its economic activities (see Figure 1).
Biodiversity loss is occurring at an alarming rate
across the world’s terrestrial, freshwater, and ma-

Supporting
Servicesare necessary for the
production of all otherecosystem services, fore.g. by providing plants andanimals with living spaces,
allowing for diversity of
species, and maintaining
genetic diversity.

CulturalServicesare non-material benefits
people gain from ecosystems,
for e.g. aesthetic andengineering inspiration,
cultural identity and spiritualwell-being.

Figure 1: Biodiversity and life-sustaining biological processes(Source: based on Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis and FAO on line information
http://www.fao.org/ecosystem-services-biodiversity/en/ )Sport and Biodiversity

1

rine biomes. Much of Earth’s biodiversity is undergrave threat from the direct impacts of conversionof natural habitats, unsustainable extraction of natural resources, unchecked spread of invasive alien species, and pollution (see Figure 2). Climatechange, directly and indirectly, is also profoundly
impacting species and their habitats. Evidence ismounting that the loss of genes, species, and ecosystems jeopardises the delivery of critical services
provided by biodiversity to human communities.

Habitat loss,
alteration andfragmentation

Over
exploitation

ClimatechangeInvasive
species
Pollution

Figure 2: Direct pressures on biodiversity and ecosystems(Source: based on Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis)

1.3 Biodiversity and sport

Sport can have negative impacts on biodiversity
through the need for land area to construct permanent and/or temporary sports venues and support
facilities. Further adverse impacts on biodiversity
can arise from the demand for natural resources
such as water, the generation of high quantities ofsolid waste and water pollution linked to the use ofchemicals and the generation of municipal wastewater, and high levels of noise and light pollution
triggered by the presence of hundreds to many
thousands of athletes, spectators, and media, especially if in natural areas. However, sport, throughits mass appeal and ever-increasing global reach,also has the potential to act as a positive force forbiodiversity conservation.

2

Throughout the various phases of venue and event
planning and delivery (conception, site selection,
design and construction, staging, dismantling, andclosure and venue redeployment), decisions can bemade to conserve biodiversity, by both mitigating
potential negative impacts and enhancing biodiversity resources. To do so successfully, it is critical to
be aware of the interrelations between biodiversity
and sport, and to ask the right questions (see Section 4) early enough, and continuously, so that identified measures can be more easily and effectively
integrated in all the phases.

Sport and Biodiversity

1.4 The business case for sport and biodiversity

There are many reasons for taking timely action toeffectively mitigate impacts on biodiversity linked
to sport, as well as to maximise the opportunities
for biodiversity conservation. Unmanaged or poorly
managed biodiversity impacts can pose a numberof risks to a sporting event, the most relevant being:
•

•

•

•

Financial risks: A venue that may negatively
impact biodiversity could encounter problems
accessing project finance. Furthermore, construction delays related to conflicts with local
communities and civil society organisations
over poor management of biodiversity values
can also lead to important financial costs forthe developers and the organising committee.
Regulatory risks: Biodiversity aspects play acentral role in environmental impact assessment processes and environmental licensing
by relevant authorities. In addition, failure tocomply with local regulations could lead tolarge fines.
Operational risks: Inadequately protected or
managed environments can jeopardise thehealth of athletes and diminish the attractiveness of events and venues for the local community, spectators, and media.
Reputational risks: Poorly managed impacts
on biodiversity could result in criticism andcampaigns by the media and civil society. This
could impact an event through lower spectator attendance, difficulty in obtaining corporate
sponsorships, and perception of a negative link
between the biodiversity issue and the event/
sports federation.

Sport and Biodiversity

On the other hand, taking timely and effective action to mitigate negative impacts and maximise
conservation opportunities could lead to:•accessing project finance and obtaining thenecessary planning and environmental approvals easier and faster;•a region, city, venue, or federation attracting
future sporting events more easily, due to national and/or international recognition of bestpractice in the sector;•

establishing long-term positive engagementswith civil society organisations, the local community, and the media that could benefit theoverall sports sector and, specifically, the successful organisation of the event;•obtaining a social license to operate by addressing civil society’s concerns about the biodiversity impacts of the venue and sporting
events;•attracting sponsors that seek to promote sustainable products and/or want to associate
their image with the environment and biodiversity;•

contributing to resilient cities and healthy lifestyles; and•working to meet the Sustainable Development
Goals, in particular Goal 14 ‘Life below water’and Goal 15 ‘Life on land’, as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

3

2
4

Rio 2016 OG, Basketball Men - Qualification, United States of America (USA)
1st - Serbia (SRB) 2nd. Nikola JOKIC (SRB) no 14, Marko SIMONOVIC (SRB),
Demar DEROZAN (USA) no 9.
© 2016 / Comité International Olympique
(CIO)
Jason
Sport
and/ EVANS,
Biodiversity

2. Managing the impacts of sports venues
and sporting events on biodiversity
2.1 Overview

Biodiversity loss, which is the decline in the diversityof plants and animals (at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels), can be caused by:
•
•
•
•
•

degradation, fragmentation, and loss of habitat;
introduction of invasive species;
pollution;
climate change; andover-exploitation of natural resources.

The construction of new sports venues and supporting infrastructure such as access roads andpowerlines; the installation of temporary venues
and their associated facilities, including parking,spectator overpasses, temporary seating, public
toilets, view-points, fencing, communication infrastructure, commercial outlets, etc.; and the stagingof sporting events can all directly or indirectly contribute to these pressures.

2.2 Impacts linked to sports venues

The location and size of a venue will determine thetype of risks, as well as the opportunities, that will
be faced. Sports venues can be located in urban or
natural environments, the key difference being thaturban environments are generally considered, from abiodiversity point of view, as being largely ‘modified
habitats’, while natural environments would generally
qualify as either ‘natural habitats’ or ‘critical habitats’(see Box 1).
Natural habitats are generally more sensitive thanmodified habitats to the changes associated withthe construction of new venues, especially when alarge land area and the construction of large andcomplex facilities are involved. Critical habitats, given their significance for biodiversity conservation,
are likely to be most sensitive to these changes. On
the other hand, sports venues in highly modified areas may have an opportunity to restore degradedareas as part of their development. Generally, thesize of a new venue defines the level of impacts ina particular environment, while the use of existingvenues can avoid land-use-related impacts associated with the construction of a new facility.

Box 1. Modified, natural, critical habitats … What’s the difference?
Modified habitats are ‘Areas that may contain a large proportion of plant and/or animal species of
non-native origin, and/or where human activity has substantially modified an area’s primary ecological
functions and species composition’. Natural habitats, on the other hand, are defined as ‘Areas
composed of viable assemblages of plant and/or animal species of largely native origin and/or
where human activity has not essentially modified an area’s primary ecological functions and species
composition’. Critical habitats are a subset of either natural or modified habitats, and are defined as‘… area[s] of the planet with high biodiversity conservation significance based on the existence ofhabitat of significant importance to critically endangered or endangered species, restricted range orendemic species, globally significant concentrations of migratory and/or congregatory species, highly
threatened and/or unique ecosystems and key evolutionary processes’.
Source: International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard 6, 2012.

Sport and Biodiversity

5When new venues – permanent or temporary – andtheir associated infrastructure are developed in natural or critical habitats, they can contribute to habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss, especially
if they have a large footprint. The magnitude of this
impact will also greatly depend on the biodiversity
values of the area; developing sports venues in orwithin close proximity to marine, coastal, and/ or
terrestrial protected areas, Key Biodiversity Areas,
World Heritage Sites, Ramsar sites, or Important Bird
and Biodiversity Areas would come with high risks
to biodiversity. Although a natural habitat may nothave a special designation, it will most certainly havea wide variety of plant and animal species that may
be affected. It is also important to recognise that, incertain situations, even if the direct footprint impactof the venue on biodiversity is minimal, it could makean already critical situation worse. New sports venues, including the range of infrastructure such asaccess roads, power lines, and pipelines needed tosupport them, may also fragment habitat and natural corridors in the landscape. These impacts add tothe footprint impacts and could result in a cumulative
negative impact that would make it impossible for anatural community, habitat, or a species to persist.

When sports venues are developed in modified environments, such as in urban settings, it might seemon the surface that there is no risk to biodiversity,
since buildings and built features are not expected
to harbour much wildlife. However, with their varietyof construction, urban areas are important habitats
for a wide range of species that use walls, bridges, rooftops, and other parts of built structures forroosting, nesting, breeding, and colonising. Bats,
birds, lichens, mosses, wildflowers, and many
mammals and invertebrates call urban buildings‘home’. Disruptions to these locations from thedemolition of old buildings to make way for new infrastructure; the refurbishment of existing buildings;
the installation of temporary infrastructure neededfor event operations; increased lighting, vibrations,and dust; or other physical changes to their habitats can have a considerable impact on urban plant
and animal species. This, combined with the general lack of acknowledgement and information about
the biodiversity aspects of the urban environment,
means that managing biodiversity in these areas isoften not part of project planning. Therefore, impacts are often unknown and unintended.

2.3 Impacts linked to the organisation of sporting events

Sporting events held in urban venues or in natural landscapes can negatively impact biodiversity
through large numbers of spectators, who increase
noise, vibration, and lighting, produce large quantities of solid waste and wastewater, and generate
traffic that can increase pollution and road kills ofwildlife. Furthermore, outdoor venues in or near urban areas that are used for recreation and leisure activities are frequently highly managed environments.
When a sporting event is staged, there can be asignificant increase in management activities, suchas increased cutting of grass, brush, undergrowth,or borders. The removal of this vegetation (e.g.
cut grass, fallen leaves, dead wood) can disrupt
or destroy biodiversity habitats. The application ofchemical fertilisers, pesticides, and mosquito control measures, can further affect, reduce, or limit theopportunities for species survival in these intensively
managed environments.
The risks to biodiversity from both summer and winter sporting events conducted outdoors in natural

6

environments come from many sources, including
oil or fuel spills; solid waste generation; the use ofcleaning products, pesticides or herbicides; discharge of sewage into the water or on land; theintroduction of invasive species; noise, lighting andvibration; traffic and road kills; and the need, eventemporarily, to erect fencing and communication infrastructure, and expand and/or construct new startand finish areas, viewing points, media points, medical stations, refuelling stations, commercial outlets
to service the event, and water reserve ponds forsnowmaking.
Spectators can also damage natural habitats
through the sheer numbers of people trampling
the grounds. Littering, walking on non-designatedpaths and into sensitive areas, and car and bikeparking where not permitted can all have negative
impacts on biodiversity, such as disturbing breeding, nesting, and feeding animals. These behaviours in fragile outdoor spaces can impact bothbiodiversity and habitats negatively and, in somecases, irreversibly.

Sport and Biodiversity

2.4 Mitigating biodiversity impacts

In most countries, environmental regulations govern the development of new sports venues or the
expansion and modification of existing venues. This
guide does not address this topic, except to statethat sports organisers should comply with all legal
requirements that relate to biodiversity.
Within and beyond legal compliance, the recommended way of effectively managing biodiversity
impacts is through what is known as the ‘mitigation
hierarchy’ of avoidance, minimisation, restoration,and offsets (see Figure 3 and Box 2). The mitigation
hierarchy comprises a sequence of actions to address negative impacts on biodiversity. According
to the mitigation hierarchy, wherever possible, impacts should be avoided. Where avoidance is notpossible, impacts are to be minimised. These impacts should then be mitigated through restoration
actions, and, where significant residual impacts still
remain, biodiversity offsets should be implemented.
Mitigation measures that avoid and then minimise
impacts are prioritised over measures to correct orBox 2: The IUCN policy on biodiversity offsets
The 2016 IUCN Policy on Biodiversity Offsets highlights a number of fundamental principles thatshould be taken into consideration for effective implementation of the mitigation hierarchy. These
include:1. Apply the hierarchy as early as possible in the project life cycle, to inform potential development
decisions.
2. Explicitly consider the project within a broader landscape or seascape context.
3. Identify and respect nationally and internationally recognised ‘no-go’ areas.
4. Examine lower-impact alternatives in the project design, including not proceeding with the projectat all, recognising that not all impacts can be offset to achieve no net loss.
5. Give priority to avoiding any damage to biodiversity.
6. Take full account of direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts, both geographically and over time.
7. Clearly distinguish impact avoidance, minimisation, and on-site restoration measures from offsets.
8. Design offsets to achieve at least no net loss and preferably a net gain of biodiversity.
9. Ensure any biodiversity offsets used as part of the mitigation hierarchy secure additional
conservation outcomes that would not have happened otherwise.
10. Use approaches that are science-based, transparent, and participatory, and that address theeffects of the project and mitigation actions on livelihoods.
11. Follow a rights-based approach, as defined by IUCN resolution WCC-2012-Res-099.
12. Identify and put in place the legal, institutional, and financial measures needed to ensure longterm governance of all mitigation actions (including any biodiversity offsets).
13. Apply a rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and enforcement system that includes independent
verification of all mitigation actions.
14. Apply the precautionary principle throughout all stages of the mitigation hierarchy.
15. Apply the ecosystem approach in all stages of the mitigation hierarchy.
IUCN’s Policy also recognises that there are limits to biodiversity offsetting, and that ‘In certain circumstances residual impacts on biodiversity (after completing the avoidance, minimisation and rehabilitation steps of the mitigation hierarchy) cannot be offset. Additionally, there are some componentsof biodiversity for which impacts could theoretically be offset, but with a high risk of failure. Under
these circumstances, biodiversity offsets are not appropriate, and this means that the project as
designed should not proceed.’
Source: IUCN website

Sport and Biodiversity

7

AVOIDMINIMISERESTOREOFFSET

Net gain

Anticipatedproject
impactBiodiversity breakeven point(no net loss)

ACAs

Residual impacts
Additional
conservation
actions (ACAs)
OffsetRestoreMinimise
Avoided impacts

Figure 3: The mitigation hierarchy(Source: adapted from the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Programme (BBOP))

remedy impacts, given the risks associated withrestoration and offsets. For this reason, the utmost
care should be taken in choosing a suitable location for a new sports venue and/or sporting event.
Considering modified or degraded sites offers considerable benefits: the risks of negative biodiversity
impacts are small and opportunities to benefit biodiversity conservation are greatest. The objective of
all mitigation measures can either be set to achieve‘no net loss’ or, even better, a ‘net gain’ of biodiversity.

8

Finally, it is important to involve an ecologist in theplanning team for new sports venues and sporting
events at an early stage, to help identify biodiversity
risks and potentially significant impacts that would
need to be mitigated. Failure to do so could result
in delays and eventually additional costs.

Sport and Biodiversity

3Sport and Biodiversity

Mountain Bike Racer © iStock

93. Maximising opportunities for biodiversity
conservation
Sporting events and their associated facilities, including access roads, parking areas, etc., cancatalyse biodiversity conservation at a local andglobal level. Identifying these opportunities canhelp strengthen the relationship between venue

developers and event organisers, and local communities. Although a definitive list of opportunities
does not exist, this section discusses some available options.

3.1 Enhance, restore, and reconnect natural habitats in urban
environments

Any sporting event can trigger urban enhancement
or renewal by restoring degraded sites, connecting
natural sites and habitats that may have become
fragmented over time, building ‘green’ rooftops andliving walls, and installing man-made habitats suitable for use by animals such as birds and bats.

reverse pre-existing trends that have been damaging to urban biodiversity and habitats. Sporting
events may also offer an opportunity to develop urban ecological corridors; these open spaces havethe potential to provide multiple use benefits to urban dwellers.

The construction of new permanent venues canoffer an opportunity to bring back to use an existing degraded area, such as former landfill sites orabandoned industrial areas, instead of developing a‘green-field’ area (see Box 3). The use of degraded
land as a site for multiple new venues was a central
part of the strategies for the Sydney 2000 Olympic
Games, the London 2012 Olympic Games, and theParis 2024 Olympic Games candidature. Throughsuch a transformation process, organisers can help

There are many other options for improving the habitatin urban spaces, for example incorporating plantings
that attract pollinators and nectar-feeding insects,
and adding shelters for birds, bats, and invertebrates(see Box 4). Trees can be planted along roads to encourage biodiversity in the built environment. Species-rich lawns, ornamental trees, and shrubberies
can be established using native species, together
with plants that provide benefits to other local faunaand flora. Wetlands can be re-established in areas

Box 3. Golf events restore industrial sites and native species
It took vision, in Rio de Janeiro, to look at a degraded old quarry site, overrun with 80 percent non-indigenous vegetation cover, and see the potential for redesign as a natural golf course with biodiversity
protection and enhancement at the core of its design. But this is just what happened at the Rio 2016
Olympic Games, where an unused quarry site was transformed into a ‘naturalised’ golf course. The
transformation led to a 167-percent increase in vegetation cover and a net increase in biodiversity,from 118 species found on site before the project to 263 species afterwards. The site was also quickly
recolonized by rare and protected species, including burrowing owls, caiman, capybara, lapwings,
sandpipers, and egrets. To achieve this state, more than 15,000 native plants were transplanted tothe area, and an on-site plant nursery was developed to propagate more than 475,000 plants from
native seeds to stock the site.
Source: Julie Duffus (Interview, July 2017), Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic
Games Rio 201610

Sport and Biodiversity

Box 4. Sport leading the Solent oyster revival
When the Land Rover BAR sailing team began to build their new home on the waterfront in Portsmouth, the team identified a threat to the natural ecosystem on their doorstep. The Solent, the strait
that separates mainland England from the Isle of Wight, had once supported an oyster trade worth
millions of pounds. However, in the last few years, a rapid decline in the native oyster population had
led to the subsequent collapse of the oyster fishery in the area.
With an opportunity to make a real impact on the ecosystem on their doorstep, the team were excited
to help make a difference. The concept was simple: Working with their partners, they would nurture
protected cages of adult oysters at the team base, replicated on pontoons to reproduce and ‘reseed’
the wider fishery.
The oyster cages are now installed, and oysters are successfully establishing themselves back in the
harbour. Dr Joanne Preston of the Institute of Marine Sciences, Portsmouth University, commented:‘It’s fantastic to see stage one complete. The oysters are in, so we can now start collecting the data to
gain a better understanding into what is happening to the oysters and the ecosystem around them’.
Source: LandRover BAR
where they might previously have been drained, withdrainage features and planting of reed beds and other locally appropriate native wetland plants.
Increasing the diversity of plant species, grasses,
and trees can increase the richness of a habitat.
For example, low-growing wildflowers can be introduced into a green field to increase the species
mix; a grassland habitat can be created around themargins of a football pitch, hockey field, or tennis
courts; and buildings can be partially or completely
covered with vegetation to create living ‘green’ roofs
and/or walls. Instead of a water fountain, ponds
can be built; reed beds can be introduced in a water
body to clean the water and attract biodiversity; or
log walls can be used instead of cement walls andfences, to benefit insects and other invertebrates.
All these are options that can serve the organisers’
purposes for their events while at the same time improving urban environments and delivering biodiversity, as well as aesthetic, benefits.
There are many benefits of working with local conservation organisations, which can provide valuable
contributions of knowledge on local biodiversity,
propose suggestions and mitigation recommendations, and take the lead in implementing conservation projects (see Box 5). Ideally, these organisations
should be contacted early in the planning stage, sothat their input can help shape the design of sports
venues, rather than later when damage may alreadyhave been done.

Box 5: Reusing sports equipment for biodiversity
Since 2001, the Wildlife Trusts and The Championships, Wimbledon have worked together to prevent
it becoming ‘game, set, and match’ for Britain's smallest mammal, the harvest mouse (Micromys
minutus). Some 36,000 tennis balls used at the world-famous tournament are recycled every year as
homes for harvest mice, to help protect the endangered species from their many predators and theloss of their habitat from intensive farming.
With a small hole cut into the side, the tennis balls make excellent, waterproof homes. They are attached to poles about a metre off the ground, where the mice can make nests away from birds of preyand ground predators.
Now, besides Wimbledon, many lawn tennis clubs around the United Kingdom regularly donate theirused tennis balls to local wildlife organisations to help them in their conservation efforts.
Source: Julie Duffus (Interview, July 2017), London Organising Committee for the Olympic andParalympic Games (LOCOG)

Sport and Biodiversity11

3.2 Increase the area under protection

Sport and sporting events can result in an increaseof protected areas, either by promoting the extension of existing protected areas or by leading to theestablishment of new protected areas. This increase
may come as a result of the mitigation hierarchy, if a
biodiversity offset is established, or through on-siteprotection. The protection and management of anarea as a biodiversity offset present opportunities toensure a long-term connection between the eventand the newly created protected area, and associated positive publicity for the developer or sporting
body. Contributions to the funding of ongoing management could be generated by using a percentage of the entrance fees for the venue, or throughcommercial sponsorship agreements.
Whereas a biodiversity offset may be considered aone-off action, there can be opportunities to ensure

a long-term connection between the event and the
newly created protected area, through funding asa percentage of the entrance fees or through commercial sponsorship agreements.
On-site opportunities to increase protected areas
may arise when important habitats are identified
during the planning process and then formally protected within the scope of the event development.
For example, the creation of the Athens 2004
Olympic Rowing Centre provided the city with anopportunity to re-establish a wetland area that had
become severely degraded (see Box 6). The Local
Organising Committee successfully worked with
the Ministry of Public Works to have a small airport
removed, restore the wetland and the adjacent forest areas, and design and develop the venue as anatural lake, rather than an artificial one.

Box 6. Re-instating wetlands: from degraded site to rowing centre
to national parkA degraded wetland near the coast on the outskirts of Athens was chosen as the ideal spot to createa rowing centre for the 2004 Olympic Games. However, a multitude of anthropogenic pressures had
caused considerable environmental degradation, to the point where there was a high risk of extinction
for endemic freshwater fish and rare plant species in the area.
During the planning phase, the habitat and the project were treated as a single system, which wasstudied from environmental-ecological, area planning, and social-financial points of view. The aim was
to optimise the design and operations of the project in relation to the habitat, while at the same time
determining measures and interventions for upgrading ecological functions and protecting the habitat.
The final layout of the rowing centre took into account all these parameters, and also met athletic
requirements, as determined by international specifications. The sensitive balance of groundwater,
two newly constructed semi-natural lakes, a wetland, and the maintenance of the sand dune pine tree
forest featured prominently in the design. The whole area, including the rowing centre, has since been
designated as the Shineas National Park, to promote environmental protection as well as recreationand sports activities. This case is a clear example of how biodiversity enhancement can coexist withsport and provide lasting positive benefits for all.
Source: George Kazantzopoulos (interview, July 2017), Athens Organising Committee for the Games(ATHOC) 2004

12

Sport and Biodiversity

3.3 Generate funds for financing protected areas management

Low-impact sporting events in the natural landscape, such as running and mountain biking, offer real opportunities for marketing and generating
funding for conservation through the visibility andexposure created by the event.
With their natural beauty, clean water, and clean
air, protected areas offer attractive environments
in which to conduct low-impact sporting events.
Depending on the location, the type of habitat, thesize of the event, and existing infrastructure or the
possibility of setting up low-impact temporary infra-

structure, sport and biodiversity may be compatible, and the event could support the primary purpose of the protected area, to ensure biodiversity
conservation.
Because the event should comply with the applicable protection legislation and the zoning of theparticular protected area, the events concerned
will almost invariably be transient in nature, with nopermanent sports venues or other dedicated sports
infrastructure developed inside the protected areas.

3.4 Raise public awareness about biodiversity

Sporting events can provide a platform for raisinglocal awareness about the importance of biodiversity and biodiversity conservation (see Box 7 and
8). They can also raise global awareness when theevent welcomes spectators from around the world.

Through the multitude of media platforms now
available, sporting events are powerful catalysts ofpublic awareness and offer the possibility of raising
the profile of biodiversity-related issues to a wide
audience.

Box 7. Cycling sensitively through beauty spots
Box Hill is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in thesouth of England. The area supports several nationally endangered species of plants and animals,
among them two iconic species, the Adonis blue butterfly and the dormouse, as well as their foodsources.
This area was part of the route for the London Surrey Cycle Classic and the cycling road races of the
London 2012 Olympic Games. During planning, it was identified that spectators along the cycle route
would be one of the major sources of potential impacts to the site.
Ecological surveys conducted with partners helped identify species sensitivity, created new knowledge about the species and their food plants, and provided information for spectator management
planning, as well as for outdoor learning and environmental arts activities to raise awareness among
spectators. These activities included film making, projects to create boxes for dormouse hibernation,and other initiatives to help spectators understand any restrictions on viewing the race and engage
them in the natural qualities of the sporting event venue.
Source: Julie Duffus (Interview, July 2017), London Organising Committee for the Olympic andParalympic Games (LOCOG)

Sport and Biodiversity

13

Box 8: Swimming for conservation
Two invasive species of lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) are posing a growing threat to Atlantic and Caribbean reefs. The fish, which are native to the Indo-Pacific, are thought to have first been
introduced along the south-eastern coast of Florida in the 1980s. Since then, the fish have spread
rapidly north and south and are now found as far north as the Carolinas and throughout the Caribbean. They are now beginning to invade the Gulf of Mexico and the northern coast of South America.
Wherever they spread, lionfish pose a serious threat to indigenous reef fish and coral reef ecosystems.
With no natural predators around the Bahamas, populations of lionfish have exploded and, in someareas, have decimated the reef ecosystem, leading to the collapse of fishing industries and significantly damaging the tourism industry.
In an attempt to control these invasive species, local communities on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera
are using sport to help educate and raise awareness. An annual swimming event in which participants
compete to catch as many lionfish as possible brings together sport and conservation in an effort tonot only reduce the numbers of lionfish on the reefs, but also to educate people on the importance ofpreserving the reefs for future generations.
The event then goes a step further by holding a cookery class for all athletes and spectators, so that
local community members can learn how to prepare and eat the fish, in the hopes that local fishermen
will start fishing for the destructive invasive lionfish.
Source. Cape Eleuthera Institute (web)

It is important that the biodiversity messaging isrelevant to the particular sport, sporting event, or
spectator constituency. It should be about biodiversity and the related threats, and linkages withother sustainability issues such as heathy living,with the aim of generating support and/or changing behaviour and associated impacts. This iswhere partnerships with local conservation organisations and action groups can be beneficial.
The use of biodiversity elements represented as
mascots, included on event tickets or staff uniforms, or as part of the event’s logo, can have apowerful impact when associated with the rightmessaging. It is important to note, however, thatthe elements selected should be associated withthe actual site of the event, or the local area, sothat a real and logical communications narrative
can be developed. The mascot needs a relevant
and simple conservation message to be effective.
Mascots appeal most when they evoke empathy
by giving their characters human-like physical andbehavioural features; empathy is essential to promote concern for animals and species. Beyond
being seen as representative of a team and bringing luck, a mascot should help teach more about
the species and its natural habitat and advocate

14

for its survival and the protection of its habitat.
Some examples include:•

All 18 of Florida Atlantic University’s sports
teams are known as the Owls, and the bird,
which is traditionally associated with wisdomand determination, serves as the university’s
mascot. Since 1971, the school’s campus in
Boca Raton, Florida, has been the site of adesignated Burrowing Owl sanctuary. This particular bird is listed as a ‘Species of Concern’in Florida.

•

Karak was the mascot for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He was modelled on a redtailed black cockatoo, a threatened species in
the host country, Australia.

•

Fuleco the Armadillo was the official mascot of
the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Fuleco isa Brazilian three-banded armadillo, a speciesof armadillo that is native to Brazil and categorised as a Vulnerable Species in the IUCN Red
List of Threatened SpeciesTM. The name is acombination of Futebol (‘football’) and Ecologia(‘ecology’).

Sport and Biodiversity

From information panels and dedicated signs, tosmart phone apps that share videos and photographs of biodiversity on land or on water, communications efforts can build longer-term appreciationin spectators of the value of biodiversity and how tohelp improve it. In addition, the same biodiversity
information can be used to create curricula for local
schools to teach students about the importance of
biodiversity conservation in their local environment,or, it could be used to create a museum exhibit
about biodiversity in the sports venue.
Sports commentators can also play a crucial role.
They can enrich their event’s presentations with details regarding the local biodiversity and any measures implemented by the event organisers. In addition, volunteers, sports officials, and event staff
should also be briefed, so that they are able to explain any viewing restrictions, out-of-bounds areas,etc., to spectators and the reasons why. This canmake all the difference between biodiversity protection measures being respected or not.
In raising public awareness on the importance of biodiversity conservation, athletes can be very effective biodiversity ambassadors through their directconnection with their fan base. Sports stars canpositively influence attitudes and behaviours where
they have a local link. For example, former basketball star Yao Ming, who is originally from Shanghai,
uses his position as a role model to reverse centuries-old Chinese traditions that have resulted indwindling rhinoceros and elephant populations.
World-renowned soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is
an Ambassador of the Mangrove Care in Indonesia,
through a forum that aims to raise awareness about
the importance of conserving biodiversity and mangrove ecosystems in Bali.

3.5 Increase the available biodiversity data and knowledge

When natural sites are selected for sporting events,
it is rare to know in advance exactly what animaland plant species exist in and around the area, andspecifically where they are located. The biodiversity
inventories and baselines often required as part ofthe venue planning and development authorisation
process are therefore sources of new knowledge onan area for biodiversity conservation organisations

that often do not have the means to collect sucha wealth of data (i.e. universities, research centres,
non-governmental organisations). Venue developers and local organising committees have a great
opportunity to support future conservation by making these data publicly available.

3.6 Generate biodiversity benefits through carbon offsets

As for any human activity, sporting events, eventhe best designed and well-managed, should strive
to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated
through the activities of the planning and staging
phases. In selecting a carbon offset project, sports
organisers could prioritise projects that would also
generate biodiversity co-benefits.
Generally, land-management projects aim to deliver net positive benefits for climate change mitigation, for local communities, and for biodiversity. For

Sport and Biodiversity

example, forest-based carbon offset projects offer
good opportunities to achieve carbon neutrality byaddressing land degradation, a leading cause of
global climate change, and also provide a suite ofco-benefits, such as supporting local communities
by ensuring the continued delivery of important ecosystem services that intact forests provide. Forest
carbon projects also provide direct employment
for community members and generate income andsupport for social and economic development initiatives.

15

4
16

Photo © iStockSport and Biodiversity

4. An action checklist to mitigate risk andleverage opportunity
The following table presents a range of action areas and associated guiding questions to help developers,
organisers, and sponsors of sports venues and sporting events identify and address potential negative
impacts on biodiversity from their activities, as well as opportunities for enhancing biodiversity conservation.

Action area

Suggested questions to ask

1. Determine if thevenue(s) and theevent(s) could have an
impact on biodiversity

•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•

2. Connect withstakeholders•••

3. Understand thebiodiversity impactsof the venue andsporting event•••

Sport and Biodiversity

Is the event going to use existing venues or will new venues bebuilt?
Has an ecologist (or biodiversity specialist) been appointed as partof the planning and design team?
In relation to new venues, is there a detailed map of the
distribution of the local biodiversity values, such as protectedareas, key biodiversity areas, or habitats of threatened species or
ecosystems?
Are the venues located or being built in World Heritage Sites orprotected areas?
Is the area to be affected likely to have any ‘critical habitat’ (seeBox 2)?
Have the costs of these impacts on the community beenassessed?
Have the costs of mitigating the impacts on biodiversity beenassessed?
Have the benefits of mitigating the impacts on important
ecosystem services provided by the affected biodiversity beenassessed?
Are there known conservation challenges in the area?
Have the local conservation organisations, and international where
relevant, been contacted?
Have relevant research institutions been contacted?
Has a detailed baseline survey of the biodiversity in the area been
conducted, to identify important biodiversity?
Have pre-existing threats to biodiversity, which may be madeworse by the venue or event, been identified?
Has an environmental impact assessment been planned or
conducted for new venues and events, to identify potentiallysignificant negative impacts and ways to mitigate them?

17

4. Mitigate biodiversity
impacts

•
•
•

•

•
•

•

5. Capture biodiversity
opportunities

•
•
•
•

•

18

Have the impacts related to the venue and events been analysedin terms of the potential for avoidance and minimisation?
Has the siting of new venues prioritised degraded sites?
Where critical habitats in particular, or natural habitats, could be
negatively affected, have all feasible alternative sites for the venue
or event been investigated which would avoid these impacts?
Have ways to avoid and minimise the impacts related to the venue
and events been addressed and included in implementationplans?
Has restoration of impacted habitat been assessed for its
feasibility and included in implementation plans?
Have biodiversity offsets for impacts that remain after avoidance,
minimisation, and restoration efforts have been exhausted,
identified, and included in implementation plans?
Has the need for joint conservation action been addressed
through the establishment of partnerships with conservation
organisations and research institutions?
Have opportunities to enhance and/or restore local degradedhabitats, and/or reconnect fragmented habitats, been used?
Have opportunities to extend or expand protected areas been
considered?
Have the data collected during the biodiversity assessment beenshared with relevant conservation and research institutions?
Have biodiversity awareness and information programmes
targeting the public been included in the staging of sporting
events?
Have fundraising options for the management of protected areas
and local conservation initiatives been identified and planned?

Sport and Biodiversity

5Sport and Biodiversity

Rio 2016 OG, Rowing, pair without coxswain (2-) Women Qualification, Genevieve BEHRENT and Rebecca SCOWN (NZL).
© 2016 / Comité International Olympique (CIO) / KASAPOGLU, Mine

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5. Glossary and resources
5.1. Glossary

Biological diversity: The variability among livingorganisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems andthe ecological complexes of which they are part;
this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. (Convention on Biological
Diversity, 1992)
Biodiversity loss: Biodiversity loss is usually observed as one or all of: (1) reduced area occupied
by populations, species, and community types, (2)loss of populations and the genetic diversity they
contribute to the whole species, and (3) reduced
abundance (of populations and species) or condition (of communities and ecosystems). The likelihood of any biodiversity component persisting (thepersistence probability) in the long term declines
with lower abundance and genetic diversity and reduced habitat area. (Glossary (2012), BBOP)
Biodiversity offsets: Biodiversity offsets are measurable conservation outcomes resulting from actions designed to compensate for significant residual adverse biodiversity impacts arising from project
development after appropriate mitigation measures
have been taken. The goal of biodiversity offsets
is to achieve no net loss and preferably a net gainof biodiversity on the ground, with respect to species composition, habitat structure, and ecosystem
function, and people’s use and cultural values associated with biodiversity. (Glossary (2012), BBOP)
Cumulative impact: The total impact arising fromthe project (under the control of the developer); other activities (that may be under the control of others, including other developers, local communities,
government); and other background pressures andtrends which may be unregulated. The project’s impact is therefore one part of the total cumulative impact on the environment. The analysis of a project’s
incremental impacts combined with the effects
of other projects can often give a more accurate
understanding of the likely results of the project’spresence than just considering its impacts in isolation. (Glossary (2012), BBOP)

20

Direct impacts: An outcome directly attributable toa defined action or project activity (often also called
primary impact). (Glossary (2012), BBOP)
Ecosystem: A dynamic complex of plant, animal,
and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.
(Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992)
Ecosystem approach: The ecosystem approachis a strategy for the integrated management of land,
water, and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.
(Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010)
Ecosystem services: The benefits people obtainfrom ecosystems. These include provisioning services such as food, water, timber, and fibre; regulating services that affect climate, floods, disease,wastes, and water quality; cultural services thatprovide recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits; and supporting services such as soil formation, photosynthesis, and nutrient cycling. (Glossary(2012), BBOP)
Habitat: The place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs. (Convention on
Biological Diversity, 1992)
Indirect impacts: Impacts triggered in responseto the presence of the project, rather than being
directly caused by the project’s own operations;sometimes called secondary or induced impacts.
(Glossary (2012), BBOP)
Invasive Alien Species: An invasive alien species(IAS) is a species that is established outside of its
natural past or present distribution, whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity.
(Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992)
Key Biodiversity Areas: KBAs are sites contributing
significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity.
(A global standard for the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas: version 1.0, IUCN, 2016)

Sport and Biodiversity

Mitigation hierarchy: The mitigation hierarchy isdefined as:
1. Avoidance: measures taken to avoid creating
impacts from the outset, such as careful spatial or temporal placement of elements of infrastructure, in order to completely avoid impacts
on certain components of biodiversity.
2. Minimisation: measures taken to reduce theduration, intensity, and/or extent of impacts,
including, as appropriate, direct, indirect, andcumulative impacts (including from climatechange), that cannot be completely avoided,
as far as is practically feasible.
3. Rehabilitation/restoration: measures taken to
rehabilitate degraded ecosystems or restore
cleared ecosystems following exposure to impacts that cannot be completely avoided and/or minimised.
4. Offset: measures taken to compensate forany residual significant, adverse impacts thatcannot be avoided, minimised, and/or rehabilitated or restored, in order to achieve no net
loss or a net gain of biodiversity. Offsets cantake the form of positive management interventions, such as restoration of degraded habitat;arrested degradation; or averted risk throughprotection of areas where there is imminent or
projected loss of biodiversity. (Glossary (2012),
BBOP)
No Net Loss/Net Gain/Net Positive Impact: A
target for a development project in which the impacts on biodiversity caused by the project are balanced or outweighed by measures taken to avoid
and minimise the project’s impacts, to undertake
on-site restoration, and finally to offset the residual
impacts, so that no loss remains. Where the gain
exceeds the loss, the terms ‘net gain’ or ‘net positive impact’ may be used instead of no net loss. No
net loss (or net gain) of biodiversity is a policy goal inseveral countries, and is also the goal of voluntary
biodiversity offsets. (Glossary (2012), BBOP)
Precautionary Principle: Where there are threatsof serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for
postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. (Rio Declaration, 1992,
Principle 15)

Sport and Biodiversity

Protected area: A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated, and managed, through legal or other effectivemeans, to achieve the long-term conservation ofnature with associated ecosystem services andcultural values. (IUCN Definition 2008)
Restoration: The process of assisting the recoveryof an area or ecosystem that has been degraded,
damaged, or destroyed. The aim of ecological restoration is to re-establish the ecosystem’s composition, structure, and function, usually bringing itback to its original (pre-disturbance) state or to ahealthy state close to the original. An ecosystem isrestored when it contains sufficient biotic and abiotic resources to sustain itself structurally and functionally and can continue its development without
further assistance or subsidy. It will demonstrate
resilience to normal ranges of environmental stressand disturbance and interact with contiguous ecosystems in terms of biotic and abiotic flows andcultural interactions. Ecological restoration strives
to alter the biota and physical conditions at a site,
and is frequently confused with rehabilitation. While
restoration aims to return an ecosystem to a former natural condition, rehabilitation implies putting
the landscape to a new or altered use to serve a
particular human purpose. Activities such as ecological engineering and various kinds of resource
management, including wildlife, fisheries and range
management, agroforestry, and forestry, may qualify as ecological restoration if they satisfy the criteria
set out by the Society for Ecological Restoration,
which lists nine attributes as a basis for determining
when restoration has been accomplished. (Society
for Ecological Restoration)
Rights-based approach: A rights-based approachis an approach to conservation that respects, andseeks to protect and promote, recognised humanrights standards (IUCN).
Threatened species: These are species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable by The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
is widely recognized as the most comprehensive,
objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. (IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species™)

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5.2 Resources

A Cross-Sector Guide for Implementing the Mitigation Hierarchy (2015), Cross Sector Biodiversity
Initiative. http://www.csbi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CSBI-Mitigation-Hierarchy-GuideSept-2015-1.pdf
BBOP Standard on Biodiversity Offsets and associated material. http://bbop.forest-trends.org/pages/
guidelines
Biodiversity for Business: A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN (2014), IUCN.
https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2014-004.pdf
Costanza, R, R de Groot, P Sutton, S van der Ploeg, S J. Anderson, I Kubiszewski, S Farber, R. K Turner(2014), Changes in the global values of ecosystem services, Global Environmental Change 26 (2014)
152–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.04.002
Cultural and Spiritual Value of Biodiversity (1999), United Nations Environment Programme, http://staging.
unep.org/pdf/Cultural_Spiritual_thebible.pdf
Hardner, J, RE Gullison, S Anstee, and M Meyer. (2015), Good Practices for Biodiversity Inclusive Impact
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22Sport and Biodiversity

London, England - July 26th, 2012: Wild flowers and plants growing in
preparation for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, London 2012,
with the Olympic Stadium in the background and a clear blue skyline © iStock

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