Audubon International
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Audubon International is a
not for profit A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization (NFPO) is a legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives. While not-for-profit organizations and non-profit organizations (NP ...
501(c)(3) environmental education organization based in
Troy, New York Troy is a city in and the county seat of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. It is located on the western edge of the county, on the eastern bank of the Hudson River just northeast of the capital city of Albany, New York, Albany. At the ...
. Established in 1987, the organization works with communities, developments, resorts, and
golf course A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, tee box, a #Fairway and rough, fairway, the #Fairway and rough, rough and other hazard (golf), hazards, and ...
s in 36 countries to plan and implement sustainable natural resource management practices, as well as receive public recognition (through certification processes) for employing sound environmental stewardship. It is the first organization to work extensively with the golf industry on
sustainability Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): env ...
issues. It has a long history of partnering with industry associations such as the
United States Golf Association The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the United States national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rule ...
(USGA). The organization has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other environmental community members for enabling facilities to adopt design and operations practices consistent with the principles of sustainability. Central to Audubon International's core value system is the belief that voluntary education and certification programs can simultaneously advance ecological, economic, and social goals. The organization is not affiliated with the
National Audubon Society The National Audubon Society (Audubon; ) is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation of birds and their habitats. Located in the United States and incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such orga ...
, which sued to prevent the organization from using the Audubon name. In 1991, a judge ruled that the National Audubon Society did not hold an exclusive right to the name Audubon and had not shown that the use of the name by Audubon International was confusing.Craig Pittman
Audubon groups at odds over names, objectives
''St. Petersburg Times'', August 7, 2000


Funding

Audubon International is a membership organization and a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. Most of the funding for the organization comes from golf courses, each paying thousands of dollars to become certified and hundreds of dollars per year for membership. In addition, according to its online list of sponsors, the organization gets funds from turf, irrigation, and landscaping companies. There is no additional fee for certification in any of Audubon International's programs, and membership fees include the ability to become certified, educational resources, and staff guidance.


Programs

Several programs in the organization aim to educate members and non-members about the environment.


Environmental stewardship and management


Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

This program focuses on helping companies and organizations learn about what they can do to help manage their surroundings, enhancing their efficiency and conservation efforts. Audubon International will focus on many things: Energy and Water Conservation, Waste Management, Wildlife and Habitat Management, and Outreach and Education. Some of the developments that have received this certification are: * Bakery Feeds, Inc., Centre, Alabama * Aurora Sports Park,
Aurora, Colorado Aurora (, ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule city located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, Arapahoe, Adams County, Colorado, Adams, and Douglas County, Colorado, Douglas List of counties in Colorado, counti ...
* Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Florida * Griffin Industries, Inc.,
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
* Kapalua Land Company,
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...


Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf

Like the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, this program works solely with golf courses to help them create environmentally-friendly areas while still having functional spaces to play golf. It also focuses on environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, water quality management, and outreach and education. The entire process can take 1 to 3 years to complete. There are over 2,110 golf courses that participate in this program in 24 countries. Some of the courses that have earned this certification are: * Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park. * Shell Point Golf Club,
Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 86,395; it was estimated to have grown to 95,949 in 2022, making it the List o ...
* Dwan Golf Club,
Bloomington, Minnesota Bloomington is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, south of downtown Minneapolis and just south of the Interstate 494/Inter ...
* The Golf Club at Briar's Creek,
Johns Island, South Carolina Johns Island is an island in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, and is the largest island in the state of South Carolina. Johns Island is bordered by the Wadmalaw, Seabrook, Kiawah, Edisto, Folly, and James islands; the St ...
* Ocean Winds Golf Course, The Town of Seabrook Island, South Carolina * Crooked Oaks Golf Course, The Town of Seabrook Island, South Carolina * The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia * Gull Lake View,
Augusta, Michigan Augusta is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 885 at the 2010 census. The village is mostly within Ross Township, though a small portion extends south into Charleston Township. Augusta is situat ...
* Lake Malaren Golf Club,
Shanghai, China Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
* Prairie Dunes Country Club,
Hutchinson, Kansas Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, Reno County, Kansas, United States. The city is located on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887 (thus its nickname of "Salt City") but locals ...
* The River Club, Suwanee, Georgia * Tuckahoe Creek Course of the Country Club of Virginia,
Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...
* Victoria National Golf Course,
Newburgh, Indiana Newburgh is an incorporated town in Ohio Township, Warrick County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,325 as of the 2010 census, although the town is part of the larger Evansville metropolitan area, which recor ...
* Westfields Golf Club, Clifton, Virginia * Wu Fong Golf Course,
Taichung Taichung (, Wade–Giles: '), officially Taichung City, is a special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality in central Taiwan. Taichung is Taiwan's second-largest city, with more than 2.85 million residents, making it the largest city in Ce ...
, Taiwan


Green Lodging Program

This program works with hotels to ensure they use green practices in the establishment's upkeep and everyday running. It helps with cost savings, conservation, cost avoidance, and increasing market share. It also awards one of four precious metal designations (bronze, silver, gold, or platinum) as part of its eco-rating. Some of the hotels that have earned this certification are: * Hotel
Sofitel Sofitel Hotels & Resorts is a French hotel chain of luxury hotels based in Paris, France, and owned by Accor since 1980. Founded in 1964 in France, Sofitel quickly developed worldwide to reach more than 200 properties. In 2008, Sofitel became a b ...
Chicago Water Tower,
Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
* Resort, Cedar Grove Lodge,
Huntsville, Ontario Huntsville is a town in Muskoka district, Ontario. It is located north of Toronto and south of North Bay. Of the three major Muskoka towns (the others being Gravenhurst and Bracebridge), Huntsville has the largest population (21,147 per 2 ...
, Canada (4 Leaves)


Eco-design


Signature Program

This program works with new housing developments and helps them to create living areas that are environmentally sound. This program has three levels: gold, silver, and bronze, with gold being the top of the list. After completing the program, a development can receive, among other things, certification as an Audubon International Sanctuary. Some of the developments that have received this certification are: * Evergrene,
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, Palm Beach County, Florida, United States, approximately 80 miles north of Miami. Palm Beach Gardens is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area. The population was 59,182 at the ...
* Black Forest at Lake James,
Morganton, North Carolina Morganton is a city in and county seat of Burke County, North Carolina, United States. It is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Catawba River. The population was 17,474 at the 2020 census. Morganton is approximately ...
* Conserve School, Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin


Classic Program

This program is similar to Audubon Signature Programs, but it is for established developments that are either being redeveloped or restored or want to make their areas more environmentally friendly. There are some minimum requirements; a development will not get certification until it passes a final audit.


Community planning and engagement


Sustainable Communities Program

This program works with communities to ensure they are great places to live, work, and play. There are two different tracks: Public Sector and Private Sector. The public sector is geared towards the local government, while the private sector is more for properties run by an association, landlord, or other such private entrepreneur. Some of the communities that have received this certification are: * Eufaula, Alabama


Other programs

In addition to these programs, Audubon International also participates in the following: * Nestbox Network * North American Birdwatching Open


References

{{reflist


External links


Audubon International website
''Articles:''
Up to the Challenge: The new Audubon International CEO is ready to take on the group's evolving mission

Playing Golf in Friendly Confines


Audubon movement