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

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 capital In the last 50 years... Forests: 30% lost Topsoil: 20% lost Commercial Fisheries: 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 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 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: 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 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 & Leadership Masters 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