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CambridgeConservationInitiative Transforming the prospects for life on Earth Dr Mike Rands Executive Director CCI Biodiversity = Natural Capital Genetic diversity Species diversity Ecosystem diversity Biodiversity benefits: providing vital products Foods Fuel and fibre Medicines Biodiversity benefits: Vital natural services – e.g. nutrient cycling, pollination Biodiversity benefits: supports natural processes and products Clean air Pure water Climate regulation Biodiversity benefits: Non-material Aesthetics, cultural values, intellectual stimulation Addressing Climate Change Maintaining Human & Animal Health Forests contain 50% of the world’s terrestrial carbon stocks 80% of US prescription drugs are based on natural sources Shaping Culture and Society One-third of humanity’s food crops depend on natural pollination Ensuring Food Production & Security WHY BIODIVERSITY? Provides Natural Capital and Sustains Life on Earth Nature inspires art, music, literature and spiritual experience in all human societies Most of the world’s poor depend on natural ecosystems for their livelihoods Alleviating Poverty Fuel wood provides the primary energy for 2.6 billion people Delivering Energy We are depleting our natural capital In the last 50 years... Forests: 30% lost Commercial Fisheries: 90% lost Topsoil: 20% lost 60% of global ecosystem services used unsustainably Biodiversity is being lost at increasing rates 2010 – a year of opportunity for biodiversity? UN International Year on Biodiversity new global targets agreed to prevent Biodiversity Loss Departments: Plant Sciences, Geography, Zoology, Land Economy, Judge Business School and Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership Schools: Biological Sciences Technology Physical Sciences Humanities and Social Sciences • Broad range of research and teaching in conservation • Over 20 conservation-related research groups • Growing number of faculty in around 10 disciplines engaged in conservation research • Over 300 publications in last 5 years • Wide-ranging educational opportunities in conservation: undergraduate teaching, postgraduate training and Executive Education • Track record of engagement and collaboration CambridgeConservationInitiative 6 University Departments: Zoology Geography Plant Sciences Land Economy Judge Business School Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership 9 Cambridge-based conservation organisations: BirdLife International TRAFFIC International Tropical Biology Association British Trust for Ornithology Fauna and Flora International Cambridge Conservation Forum Royal Society for the Protection of Birds UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre International Union for the Conservation of Nature Our Mission: To deliver transformational approaches to the understanding and conservation of biodiversity through innovative partnerships Aims • • • • • Connect research, practice and policy Work across disciplines Develop and promote innovative solutions Build capacity and create effective leaders Engage new audiences CambridgeConservationInitiative Progress so far • Agreed shared strategy – vision, objectives, themes • Adopted simple structure/governance mechanism • Become a new University Strategic Initiative • Developed 4 major collaborative programmes: Conservation Futures Horizon-scanning, gap analysis, solution scanning, shared challenges Conservation Research for Policy and Practice Delivering new, interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development Learning and Leadership Leadership training, research skills, capacity development, business and policy forums Cambridge Conservation Centre Conservation Centre • • • • • • • • Interdisciplinary University Research Institute HQ for cluster of Conservation Organisations ‘Conservation hotel’ for visiting conservationists State-of-the-art shared facilities Global convening hub Economies of scale Opportunity for extraordinary public outreach Improved environmental performance Collaborative Programmes Conservation Futures Conservation Research for Policy & Practice Horizon-scanning, solution-scanning and gap analysis on : bioenergy, biodiversity offsets, remote sensing, climate change and biodiversity conservation, reconnecting people to nature CCI COLLARORATIVE FUND SUPPORTING: programmes on valuation of ecosystem services, costing Protected Areas, Post 2010 targets Cambridge Conservation Centre Conservation Learning & Leadership Feasibility Study completed, initial partners and tenants identified, potential donors identified, site identified and refurbishment costs estimated, business planning initiated Masters in Conservation Leadership, Short Courses in biodiversity and ecosystem services, 10 year Student Conference in Conservation Science supporting sister meetings To conclude: • • • • Biodiversity is the Earth’s natural capital Livelihoods and our quality of life depend on it Action is urgently needed Cambridge has a unique role to play CambridgeConservationInitiative transforming the landscape of biodiversity conservation We need: • New approaches to assessing and generating ‘wealth’ • To measure and promote Natural Capital • To harness technology to dematerialise and decarbonise • To transform economics, transform values
