Sports and Nature: Foundations for Action

Discover how sport can play a vital role in protecting and restoring nature. Learn about the deep connection between sport and the natural environment and gain practical knowledge to make a positive impact through your work.

About the course

In this course, you will explore the critical links between sport and nature, uncover the risks and opportunities sport events, venues and operations present to nature and what to do about them, and learn actionable strategies to support nature in and through sport. Through interactive exercises, videos and real-world scenarios, you’ll gain foundational knowledge, practical skills and insights to champion nature in your organisation and integrate nature-friendly approaches into everyday operations and long-term planning.  

Course details

Who should take this course?

• People working in and/or collaborating with sport organisations, venues or events.
• People in the wider sport organisations’ ecosystem who are interested in understanding the relationship between sport organisations (venues, events, operations) and nature.
• Nature conservationists interested in the nature-sport relationship from sport organisations’ perspective.
• The course is particularly well suited for those who are new to the topic.

What will you get from this course?

• An understanding of the relationship between sport and nature, including how sporting activities depend on healthy natural systems.
• Insight into the positive and negative impacts sport can have on the natural environment.
• Practical skills using simple tools to assess how your organisation affects nature and identify related risks.
• A foundational roadmap to help you plan and take meaningful action for nature.
• Greater confidence in guiding your organisation towards a more nature-focused approach and reduced exposure to environmental risks.

What will you learn?

On completion of the course, you will be able to: 

• Explain the relationship between sport and the natural environment.
• Identify key nature-related risks and opportunities within your organisation.
• Use practical tools, such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, to inform decision-making.
• Start to develop an actionable roadmap for your organisation to support action for nature.

For a successful completion, participants must

• Complete all modules and activities
• Pass the final quiz with a minimum 80% score

Course developed by?

This course was developed by Sports for Nature.

Sports for Nature is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the International Olympic Committee, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

It aims to deliver transformative action for nature across sports, by 2030 and beyond, enabling sports to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration. It provides a game plan for sports — at all levels — to accelerate and inspire others to take action for nature.