Audubon International certified or recertified a host of properties in several categories in 2025.
Most new certifications by Audubon International were awarded in the golf and lodging categories, while many of the almost 200 recertifications were to entities dating back to the 1990s. Programs include Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf, Green Hospitality, Signature Sanctuary and Sustainable Communities. Each program provides third-party, on-site verification of science-supported sustainable practices and benchmarks. In the case of golf, that includes Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management and Outreach and Education.
"Once again, 2025 was a strong year for new certification growth across our suite of programs," said Christine Kane, CEO. "We continue to see great interest in and pursuit of certification in our Green Lodging/Green Hospitality programs, which reflects the industry's acknowledgement of sustainable best practices as a business and market response necessity. Audubon International continues to lead the way helping golf courses, resorts, communities, and businesses of all kinds invest in a brighter future for the planet."
The ACSP for Golf continues as the organization's flagship certification path with nearly 2,000 courses worldwide. New certifications in 2025 include Old Sandwich Golf Club and the Kittansett Club in Massachusetts, Sleepy Hollow Country Club in New York, Grand Bear Golf Club in Mississippi and Victory Ranch in Utah.
Each year, Audubon International's environmental specialists perform initial site visits at prospective certified properties as well as recertification visits across the country and around the world. They then provide point-by-point feedback based on each venue's location, resources, budgets and needs, help keep them on track through the process, and sign off on new certifications and recertifications once all criteria are met. Certification timelines can take up to a year or more.
Audubon International certifications are designed to increase environmental awareness, encourage sustainable environmental efforts and educate both its members and their communities.