Honor given for being green with golf greens

But at WCI Communities Inc.

the combination seems to be working.

On Wednesday, WCI's Sun City Center, in Fort Myers, was certified as the first Audubon International Gold Signature Sustainable Development.

However, understanding what that means isn't so easy, and that has caused some concern.

Pay attention to the name -- Audubon International.

It isn't the National Audubon Society, the well- known environmental group.

Audubon International was originally the Audubon Society of New York State Inc. In 1991, the group changed its name to reflect its changing focus.

The group advises and certifies golf courses and developments on how to be environmentally friendly. That's not so common in environmental circles.

But the similar names can be confusing.

"Audubon is a name synonymous with trying to protect the natural environment especially in this area, the Audubon organization that in some cases would fight the development of a golf course," said Gary Davis, environmental director of policy for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. "The appearance is that (the National Audubon Society is) endorsing a golf course."

Audubon International President and Chief Executive Ron Dodson said his group is still a part of the Audubon family.

There are 550 organizations in the United States that are part of the Audubon Alliance, he said, but each group has a different board and different bylaws.

The National Audubon Society is known for standing up to de velopers, not working with them.

"It is somewhat misleading in the eyes of the public," Davis said, "but that's not to say that they don't do good work."

Dodson said his group takes a different approach to helping the environment.

Audubon International, like other environmental groups, stands up and opposes things, has nature preserves and has told developers that a piece of land shouldn't be built on, Dodson said. The group also advises developers and awards them for their efforts.

"We're going to go where people are," Dodson said, "and we're going to try and listen to them."

At Sun City Center, Audubon International worked closely with WCI. The group reviewed and improved all of the plans for the community.

It focused on energy, waste, water and wildlife and required WCI to include energy-efficient systems and 50 percent native vegetation. WCI spent $300,000 extra to redo the irrigation system to conform with Audubon International standards, Dodson said.

"The goal is to end up with a development where it is easy for people to move around," Dodson said, "and easy for wildlife to move around in."

But some environmental groups are skeptical of the honor because they don't know what it means.

Davis wishes he knew what the certification meant, he said. He doesn't know the group's standards, he said, because it costs to see them.

Audubon International usually certifies a development or a golf course after it's built. The group's certified golf courses include Bonita Bay East, TwinEagles and Old Collier Golf Club. But with Sun City and another WCI community on the East Coast, Audubon International has been integral in the planning stages.

Now the group is taking that concept one step further. It's started a community program.

For $250 a year, a city, county or municipality can register with Audubon International.

Audubon comes in and helps the government conform to green, environmentally conscious practices. Then, the group along with the government comes up with or revises the community's strategic plan. After the community implements that plan, it becomes a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Community.

"We want your membership," Dodson said, "but we want you to join with us through your land."

The program's about to go national, and the group's main target states include, New York, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida.