Beyond birdies: enhancing biodiversity on urban golf courses Brent Jacobs, Louise Boronyak, Nicholas Mikhailovich, Jeannie Muspratt Warning This presentation may contain sporting metaphors and golf-related puns. Audience members with a delicate disposition are advised to transfer to another conference session. The handicap Urban areas: • 40% of Australia’s listed threatened ECs Sydney region: • most NV communities listed threatened species • further biodiversity loss likely - urban development Strategic approach to conservation in urban environments : • understanding of landscape patterns, species requirements & development pressures, • conservation where people live & work On the tee Golf courses under-utilized in conservation: • 116 active golf courses – greater Sydney • 4,500ha – greater Sydney • Vegetated & aquatic out-of- play areas – remnant endemic habitat • Conservation potential – incorporation of ecological thinking into golf course management & design Club selection UK evidence: • golf course managers - positive views towards biodiversity • stakeholder conflicts Aim: • baseline - capacity to manage biodiversity • factors that constrain & enable conservation • priority actions Fish ladder – Strathfield Golf Club The drive Method: • Participatory workshop – course staff • Workshop findings informed Sydney-wide survey • Semi-structured interviews with agency environment managers Fencing & signage – Long Reef Golf Club Factors influencing biodiversity management Avoiding hazards Key survey findings: • 40% of respondents – EECs or Threatened Species on course • 44% - had training related to environmental management or biodiversity • 63% - improvement in knowledge about managing biodiversity • 87% - had an EMP – decision- making guide Not all biodiversity is welcome! In the rough Key survey findings: • 86% - golf course maintenance costs rising • 54% - insufficient resources to restore out-of-play areas • 90% - lack of time limited biodiversity management • 70% - protecting & enhancing biodiversity conflicts with players’ demands • 94% - frustration – lost golf balls in shrubby or dense vegetation (damage) Hollow-bearing trees retained – Roseville Golf Club How useful would support from the following people be for managing biodiversity or natural areas on your course? Would not help at all - Would be very useful Course superintendent Course maintenance… Executive Management Committee General Manager or Club CEO State Government (e.g. OEH, CMA) Land owner Club members External contractors Course architect Neighbours Visiting players Public users of the course boundary 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 The 19th hole • Extension & training in biodiversity management – CMA, environment agency, industry training – Peer-to-peer learning • Finances major barrier to conservation – Declining participation, financial viability →land use change – Wage disparity ‘life-style job’ – Grant funding (ability to access) • Stakeholder engagement – Training – Relations with environment agency – Internal communication: members, exec. committees, volunteers .