Only 6% of biodiversity tools, frameworks and guidelines have specific relevance for the sports industry, according to an analysis conducted by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies.

A ‘biodiversity existing tool analysis report’, which was produced as part of the Erasmus+ funded BENCHES project, identified several tools, frameworks and guidelines that could be potentially adaptable for sport. 

But ultimately the study outlined the need for a freely-available sport-specific tool to be developed in order to reflect the importance of a healthy environment to sport, and, conversely, the impact sport can have on the natural environment.

In the study of 95 biodiversity impact assessment tools, frameworks and guidelines, 26% were identified as ‘very adaptable’ to the sports sector, while a further 36% were labelled as ‘potentially adaptable’.

They were assessed on further criteria, such as ‘accessibility for BENCHES partners’, ‘ease of use’, ‘relevance for BENCHES aims’ and ‘pressures addressed’, while 7 were explored in more detail.

Six of those – CSR Europe’s Biodiversity Risk Scan, Capitals Coalition’s Natural Capital Protocol, Science Based Targets for Nature, BioScope and the Product Biodiversity Footprint (PBF) – were identified as ‘very adaptable’ to sport.

The Biodiversity Risk Scan’s five-step methodology was referenced as such because of its “general structure” that associates a company’s activities with biodiversity pressures.

Because of its consideration of both terrestrial and aquatic impacts, as well as on-site and supply chain, the Natural Capital Protocol was also highlighted as ‘very adaptable’. Its accessibility and robustness was put forward as another positive aspect.

Notably, the Science Based Targets for Nature has a Materiality Screening Tool that provides a rating of materiality for different activities, including sporting events, making it potentially quite relevant to a sporting context. However, the assessment notes that production processes associated with sport only extend to infrastructure holding and leisure facility provision.

Both BioScope and the Product Biodiversity Footprint (PBF) both apply the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, making their frameworks universal and very adaptable to the sporting context, though time-consuming and requiring expertise.

All six of the frameworks assessed in detail are freely available and cost nothing.

The BENCHES project aims to strengthen the relationship between sports and nature by raising awareness of how sports depend on and affect ecosystems. It has four main aims: supporting the implementation of nature-based solutions in sport; enhancing knowledge about biodiversity in sport; analysing the current state of biodiversity management in sport; and ensuring visibility of nature in the sports sector.

Moreover, the project foresees the development of a free digitised biodiversity assessment tool for sport.

Alongside the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, the project’s technical partner, the project has five sports partners – World Sailing, International Biathlon Union, Italian Canoe Kayak Federation, S.L Benfica and World Athletics – as well as a communications partner (Touchline).

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