CambridgeConservationInitiative Transforming the prospects for life on Earth Dr Mike Rands Executive Director CCI
Jan 16, 2016
CambridgeConservationInitiative
Transforming the prospects for life on Earth
Dr Mike RandsExecutive 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
WHY BIODIVERSITY?
Provides Natural Capital and Sustains
Life on Earth
80% of US prescription drugs are based on natural sources
Addressing Climate Change
Alleviating Poverty
Forests contain 50% of the world’s terrestrial carbon stocks
One-third of humanity’s food crops depend on natural pollination
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
Fuel wood provides the primary energy for 2.6 billion people
Delivering Energy
Ensuring Food Production &
Security
Maintaining Human &
Animal Health
Shaping Culture and Society
We are depleting our natural capitalIn the last 50 years...
Forests:30% lost
Topsoil: 20% lost
CommercialFisheries:90% 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 Biodiversitynew 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 Humanities and Sciences 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
6 University Departments:ZoologyGeographyPlant SciencesLand EconomyJudge Business SchoolCambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership
9 Cambridge-based conservation organisations:BirdLife InternationalTRAFFIC InternationalTropical Biology AssociationBritish Trust for OrnithologyFauna and Flora InternationalCambridge Conservation ForumRoyal Society for the Protection of BirdsUNEP-World Conservation Monitoring CentreInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature
CambridgeConservationInitiative
Our Mission: To deliver transformational approaches to the understanding and conservation of biodiversity through innovative partnerships
• Connect research, practice and policy• Work across disciplines• Develop and promote innovative solutions• Build capacity and create effective leaders• Engage new audiences
Aims
• Agreed shared strategy – vision, objectives, themes • Adopted simple structure/governance mechanism• Become a new University Strategic Initiative• Developed 4 major collaborative programmes:
CambridgeConservationInitiative
Progress so far
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 Horizon-scanning, solution-scanning and gap analysis on : bioenergy, biodiversity offsets,
remote sensing, climate change and biodiversity conservation, reconnecting people to nature
Conservation Research for Policy & Practice
CCI COLLARORATIVE FUND SUPPORTING: programmes on valuation of ecosystem services,
costing Protected Areas, Post 2010 targets
Conservation Learning & LeadershipMasters in Conservation Leadership, Short
Courses in biodiversity and ecosystem services, 10 year Student Conference in Conservation
Science supporting sister meetings
Cambridge Conservation Centre Feasibility Study completed, initial partners and tenants identified, potential donors identified,
site identified and refurbishment costs estimated, business planning initiated
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