BIODIVERSITY
FORE-ST! WHERE GOLFERS LOVE TREES
NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA
Next time you want to book a tee time, consider if the golf course balances the needs of nature with the demands of golf greens. In Niagara Falls, Ontario, nature is par for the course with trees being the priority.
What's
changing
Forest canopies are crucial for maintaining microclimates that enable biodiversity to thrive. In areas where trees have been cut down or are less established, new efforts are being made to replenish the tree population and facilitate healthy ecosystems on large scales.
What's already
possible
On the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls, Niagara Parks is working on maintaining and increasing the tree canopy of its forest to the 30% required for it to be sustainable; currently it is at 28% coverage. Adjacent large properties play a part in maintaining the environment needed for the canopy to flourish, whether or not those plots are packed with trees, too.
Seizing
the opportunity
Wide, open golf courses are not the first thing that comes to mind when discussing forest canopy management. They do matter, because the health of the land within golf courses influences the health of the forests around them. In 2014, Niagara Parks’ Legends on the Niagara Golf Complex became a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the “Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.” The golf course regenerated wildlife habitats by replacing turf grass with native grass, protected 10 acres (4 hectares) of wetland, added six gardens for birds and pollinators, reforested 24 acres (10 hectares) of agricultural land and reduced chemical fertilizer use.
Standout
tactic
Each year the golf courses participate in a “BioBlitz,” an event that invites golfers and community members to identify and record plant and animal species found in the area. Niagara Parks can review the species reported through the survey and track the biodiversity found at the golf courses.
How
it helps
A recent “BioBlitz” identified nearly 250 species on one golf course. The combined effects from reforesting, planting gardens and species management are building a more resilient tree canopy that is increasing biodiversity in the area.
Diving
deeper
How can the economic interests of maintaining a golf course be balanced with its environmental conservation efforts to deliver both biodiversity and sustainability?
Increasing
impact
Golf courses looking to increase their sustainability efforts could work with well-known golf brands to educate the golf community about how the sport and any travel to distant courses affect the environment.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
