2018-体育与生物多样性（英文版）-4mb

Summary: Sport and Biodiversity

Core Content

This document, Sport and Biodiversity, is a guide produced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It explores the complex relationship between sport and biodiversity, highlighting both the negative impacts and the opportunities for conservation that exist within the sport industry.

The guide is aimed at all stakeholders in the sport sector, including city authorities, planners, architects, engineers, venue owners, sports federations, and Local Organising Committees (LOCs). It provides a framework for understanding how sport-related activities can affect biodiversity and offers actionable strategies to mitigate negative impacts while leveraging sport as a tool for conservation.

Main Points

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• Biodiversity refers to the variability among living organisms and their ecosystems, as defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• It supports essential ecosystem services such as provisioning (food, water), regulating (air quality, flood control), supporting (habitat, genetic diversity), and cultural (aesthetic, identity) services.
• Biodiversity loss is occurring at an alarming rate due to habitat conversion, resource overuse, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.

Biodiversity and Sport

• Sport can negatively impact biodiversity through land use for venues, resource consumption, pollution, and the presence of large numbers of people.
• Conversely, sport has the potential to raise awareness and promote biodiversity conservation through its global reach and engagement with the public.

Business Case for Sport and Biodiversity

• Ignoring biodiversity impacts can lead to financial, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks for the sport industry.
• Proactive biodiversity management can improve access to finance, attract future events, build positive relationships with communities and media, and enhance the social license to operate.
• It also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life below water) and SDG 15 (Life on land), as well as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

Key Information

Negative Impacts of Sports Venues and Events

• Construction of venues: Can lead to habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss, especially in natural or critical habitats.
• Use of venues: May result in pollution, noise, light, and resource overuse.
• Large-scale events: Increase traffic, waste, and water pollution, and can introduce invasive species.
• Urban settings: While seemingly less impactful, urban areas support diverse species and can be affected by construction, lighting, and other disturbances.

Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation

• Enhance and restore habitats: Through green roofs, living walls, and wildlife-friendly designs.
• Protect areas: By staging events in or near protected areas, thereby increasing conservation efforts.
• Raise awareness: Using biodiversity elements in event branding, public exhibits, and educational programs.
• Share knowledge: Providing biodiversity inventories and baseline data to support conservation efforts.
• Carbon offset projects: Generating biodiversity benefits through environmental initiatives that offset the carbon footprint of venues or events.

Mitigation Strategies

• Comply with legal requirements: Adhere to environmental regulations and standards related to biodiversity.
• Adopt the mitigation hierarchy: Prioritise avoidance and minimisation of negative impacts over restoration and offsetting.
• Integrate biodiversity considerations: Throughout the planning, construction, and operation phases of venues and events.

Action Checklist

• Assess biodiversity values of the site before planning.
• Avoid or minimise impacts during venue development.
• Restore degraded habitats where possible.
• Offset residual impacts through conservation projects.
• Engage with local communities and conservation organisations.
• Use biodiversity as a tool for public engagement and awareness.

Conclusion

The guide underscores the importance of integrating biodiversity considerations into all aspects of the sport industry. It encourages stakeholders to take responsibility for the environment and to use sport as a platform for promoting biodiversity conservation. By doing so, the sport industry can contribute to sustainable development and help protect the planet for future generations.

Glossary and Resources

• A glossary is provided to explain key terms related to biodiversity and conservation.
• Resources are listed to support further reading and action, including links to IUCN and other relevant organisations.