Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to all forms of life on Earth: plants, animals and micro-organisms, as well as genetic diversity and the diversity of ecosystems in which they live. Our planet hosts an estimated 8.7 million species of plants and animals (WWF). Every species, from the smallest microbe to the largest whale, is essential to ecological dynamics, and without these complex networks, life as we know it would not be possible. Everything vital to our survival - food, water, clean air and a favorable climate - comes from nature. From the forests that filter our air, to the coral reefs that protect our coasts, to the pollinating insects, biodiversity is crucial to our survival, inspires our innovations and contributes to our well-being.
Yet today it is in peril. One million animal and plant species are currently threatened with extinction (IPBES).
Our human activities contribute directly and indirectly to the erosion of biological diversity, through the destruction of natural habitats, various forms of pollution, climate change, the introduction of invasive species and the over-exploitation of resources. This human impact threatens to cause irreversible disruption to our ecosystems, and jeopardizes their ability to provide services essential to our quality of life. All sectors of our economies are and will be exponentially threatened by biodiversity loss: our food and water security, our health, our homes.
This decline also affects so-called charismatic species, those that fascinate, inspire art and culture, and feature in many folklores, such as lions, tigers, elephants, wolves and essential pollinators like bees. All species are concerned, even the most famous ones.
Lion populations have fallen by 43% in 21 years, and wild populations now number fewer than 20,000 individuals (AWF data). Tigers, meanwhile, have seen their numbers decline by 95% over the last century, with only around 4,500 remaining in nature (wwf). Elephants, the majestic giants of our savannahs and forests, are subject to intensive poaching: every day, around 55 African elephants are hunted for their ivory (WWF data). Beyond the statistics, ecosystems are collapsing, local ecological knowledge is eroding, and deep-rooted links between humans and nature are crumbling.
Although the decline in biodiversity is alarming, solutions do exist and show that it is still possible to act to reverse this alarming trend. The creation and effective management of protected areas, the restoration of natural habitats, the fight against poaching, participatory monitoring systems and the use of new technologies such as drones or artificial intelligence have already helped to stabilize or increase specific animal populations. For example, tiger numbers in India have increased by almost 30% in ten years thanks to targeted conservation programs (WWF). Similarly, local initiatives such as community reforestation are helping to restore ecosystems and support local populations. However, for these efforts to be sustainable, and as underlined by the new Kumming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, it is imperative to secure sustainable sources of funding. Acting now, with sufficient resources, means preserving the future of our planet and its ecosystems.
Sport organizations are a major stakeholder in modern societies, and sporting activities have a significant, yet understudied, impact on biodiversity at multiple levels (genes, individuals, species, populations, communities, habitats, ecosystems, and even socio-ecosystems). Climate issues are gaining traction within the sports world, particularly due to extreme heat waves affecting athletic performance, severe weather forcing event cancellations, and the declining availability of snow for winter sports. However, biodiversity conservation has yet to make its way onto the agenda of sport organizations, largely due to a lack of personnel, training, and collaboration with researchers on these issues. This represents a real opportunity to support sports organizations in their environmental efforts and guide them in addressing biodiversity conservation challenges.
Aren't charismatic species the best way to talk about biodiversity conservation? Many teams, such as the Detroit Lions (USA), the Cairns Taipans (Australia), the Hiroshima Dragonflies (Japan), the Fujian Sturgeons (China), and the Chamois Niortais (France), illustrate how animal species (lions, taipans, dragonflies, sturgeons, and chamois, respectively) are an integral part of the identity an culture of sports teams worldwide. These species hold a significant place in the cultural space of sports and can serve as flagship species for biodiversity conservation.
Globally, sports fans are regularly exposed to this animal imagery, often wearing it proudly on their jerseys, accessories, or even as body art. Yet, many of these charismatic species are among the most threatened with extinction. Given that sports organizations play a central role within their fan communities and that they have built their brands around potentially endangered species, this creates an ideal and largely unexplored opportunity for research and innovation. We thus tackle two major challenges: engaging sports organizations in biodiversity conservation and raising awareness while mobilizing athletes and fans for concrete actions in favor of biodiversity.
At the intersection of two seemingly distant fields—sports and biodiversity conservation—we identify a promising synergy between three key stakeholders: professional sports organizations and their commercial partners, team supporters, and biodiversity conservationists. Their mutual interests align through increased awareness, the exchange of resources (both human and financial), and stronger collaborations.
Teams, supporters, researchers—let’s unite for biodiversity!
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