The Sustainable Community Revolution

Everyserious sustainability effort starts with a serious plan, and every plan starts with serious and committed people with a shared purpose: To live in harmony with their environment.

This has always been a bedrock fact for Audubon International and its partners around the world. Over our 35-year history we’ve worked side by side with thousands of golf superintendents, resort managers, parks directors, business owners and entire communities to reach, maintain and further their sustainability goals.

As we all look in the rear-view mirror at the hottest summer in recorded history and look forward to the cooler days and nights of autumn and winter, I’d like to acknowledge all our partners, across all our certification programs, for their continued unceasing strides toward their stewardship goals, and for their confidence in the expertise and science-backed counsel of our environmental specialists. Every visit to a partner’s property gives us added insight into what they truly need to succeed, and how we need to evolve as a respected, third-party, non-profit organization to help them fill that need, now and into the future.

No partner exemplifies the importance of setting goals and working together to reach them than the good and dedicated army of homeowners and leaders at The Landings on Skidaway Island, the subject of this issue’s cover story. By any measure, this carefully planned collection of homes, golf courses, parks, and other public and private spaces—approximately 8,500 people— is the “gold standard” for our Sustainable Communities program, or any kind of concerted stewardship plan, not only in the Southeast, but across the United States. Audubon International’s relationship with The Landings began a quarter-century ago with a phone call inquiring about our Signature Sanctuary certification program and has since blossomed into a truly indispensable partnership with the island’s own non-profit organization, Skidaway Audubon, which in turn works with other local organizations, enlisting countless volunteers to make sure the community keeps building on its 50-year-history of sustainable best practices. After reading their story you’ll see them for the special place they are, and what your community could be.

How to become a Sustainable Community? One great place to start is by checking out our fact sheets at www.auduboninternational.org where we describe the three “branches” of a sustainability—health/equity, economic vitality, and natural environment—and offer a roadmap to success in areas such as transportation (as simple as building more bike paths), energy use, water efficiency, urban infill (which leaves more habitat for wildlife and reduces sprawl), creating and maintaining natural landscapes, and waste management (such as composting). By enlisting every stakeholder, from residents to developers to business owners, in a Sustainable Community plan in partnership with Audubon International, today’s forward-thinking and stewardship-minded planners are setting the course for more livable and environments for all. Indeed, it takes a village to thrive in harmony with nature.

The Landings on Skidaway Island is proof positive that Sustainable Communities work for the benefit of everyone, in every way. We look forward to what the future holds for your community.

Christine Kane, Chief Executive Officer, Audubon International christine@auduboninternational.org

www.auduboninternational.org

518.767.9051 | Toll-free 1.844.767.9051

Audubon International Headquarters 120 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180

STAFF

Christine Kane , Chief Executive Officer christine@auduboninternational.org

Frank LaVardara, Director, Environmental Programs for Golf frank@auduboninternational.org

Fred Realbuto, Director Green Lodging/Green Hospitality Certification fred@auduboninternational.org

Kat Welch, Director, Signature Sanctuary Certification kat@auduboninternational.org

Scott Turner, Environmental Program Manager scott@auduboninternational.org

Alison Davy, Finance and Operations Manager alisond@auduboninternational.org

Tallis Warren, Member Services Manager tallis@auduboninternational.org

Sarah Honan, Environmental Program Specialist sarah@auduboninternational.org

Kelsey King, Environmental Program Specialist kelsey@auduboninternational.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Henry DeLozier, Chairman

Rich Katz, Vice Chairman

Matt Ceplo, Treasurer

Marvin Moriarty, Secretary

Jennifer Grant, Ph.D.

Dan Murphy

Jake Riekstins

James Singerling, CCM

Bryan Stromme

Henry Wallmeyer

Randy Winegard

STEWARDSHIP NEWS STAFF

Vic Williams, Editor | Alissa Theodor, Designer