Biodiversity: A New Strategy

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Biodiversity A New Strategy

• David Blockstein, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
• National Council for Science and the Environment
• Executive Secretary
• Council of Environmental Deans and Directors
• Council of Energy Research and Education Leaders
• www.NCSEonline.org

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• Mission to improve the scientific basis of
  environmental decisionmaking.
• Vision a society where environmental decisions
  are based on an accurate understanding of the
  science, its meaning and limitations, and the
  potential consequences of their action or
  inaction.
• Focus programs that bring together diverse
  institutions, communities and individuals to
  collaborate.

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• Five Strategic Areas
• Education and Careers People
• 160 University Affiliates
• CEDD and CEREL
• EnvironMentors
• Science Solutions - Problems
• Science Policy Policies
• Earth Portal Public (http//www.earthportal.org)
  
• National Conference - Pathways

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National Conference on Science, Policy and the
Environment

• the Davos of the Environment
• 2-3 days, 800-1,200 participants
• Multi-sector research, education, business,
  civil society, government
• Learn, network, and develop strategies to combine
  science and policy to yield real-world solutions
• A launch pad for new initiatives and partnerships

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Conference Themes

• 1st - Improving the Scientific Basis for
  Decisionmaking
• 2nd - Sustainable Communities Science and
  Solutions
• 3rd - Education for a Sustainable and Secure
  Future
• 4th - Water for a Sustainable and Secure Future
• 5th - Forecasting Environmental Changes
• 6th - Energy for a Sustainable and Secure Future
• 7th - Integrating Environment and Human Health
• 8th - Climate Change Science and Solutions
• 9th - Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World

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9th National Conference on Science, Policy and
the Environment
Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing WorldDecember
8-10, 2008Washington, DC

• Examine biodiversity in context of rapid
  human-driven changes.
• Goals
• New partnerships, new initiatives, new strategies
  
• Science and policy combined for real world
  solutions

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Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World

• 1,082 participants
• Speakers Cristian Samper, Craig Venter, Tom
  Friedman
• Lifetime achievement awards E.O. Wilson, Peter
  Raven, George Rabb
• 12 Symposia 32 Breakout Sessions, 13 Workshops
• Meeting with Obama Transition Team on December 11

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Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing
WorldRecommendations Summary
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Policy

• Biodiversity and Economy
• The US must recognize that many social,
  environmental, economic, and security problems
  are linked to biodiversity.
• Engage the private sector in restoring/conserving/
  sustaining biodiversity in partnerships
  Biodiversity and Beyond.

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Policy

• National Policy
• Executive Order directing agencies to conserve
  biological diversity, with particular emphasis on
  public lands and water and incentives for private
  land conservation
• Each agency should review its authorities,
  regulations, initiatives, waivers, spending, and
  related international agreements and report to
  the President, CEQ, and domestic advisory bodies
  on things that need to be changed to better
  conserve biodiversity.

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Policy

• Biodiversity and Global Change
• Recognize the interconnections between global
  climate disruption and biodiversity loss
• US Biodiversity Adaptation Strategy with new USGS
  National Climate Change and Wildlife Science
  Center.

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Policy

• International Biodiversity
• US policies should promote the linkages between
  biodiversity, economic development and
  sustainable livelihoods recognizing.
• The US should re-engage in existing international
  environmental endeavors including requesting that
  the Senate ratify the Convention on Biological
  Diversity.

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Research

• Second Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
• Integrated assessments of biodiversity, ecosystem
  services and environmental condition within the
  US on a variety of regional and national scales.
• Scientific results, methods, data, etc. should be
  translated into usable information for
  information managers, field managers, local
  policymakers, and the public.
• Coupled human-natural systems, including links
  between population dynamics and biodiversity.

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Education and Communication

• Public campaign to educate on how biodiversity
  affects humans, and how it is linked to other
  social, environmental, and economic issues.
• Biological science standards for K-12 education
• No Child Left Inside Act

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Alliance for Life on Earth (ALOE)
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Why is an Alliance needed?

• Urgency
• Scaling up
• Community
• Coordination
• Saliency
• Synergy
• Timeliness

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Purpose and Functions
Act as a catalyst, convener, and clearinghouse

• 1. Shape a National Biodiversity Strategy and
  Action Plan
• 2. Build collaborative relationships to promote
  biodiversity and ecosystem conservation
  internationally.
• 3. Build and coalesce leadership capacity at home
  and abroad.
• 4. Build professional teams and cross-sector
  partnerships to address core challenges.

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Purpose and Functions
Act as a catalyst, convener, and clearinghouse

• 5. Develop a vigorous public communications
  campaign and an education strategy to
• improve ecological literacy among the American
  public
• build the next generation of biodiversity and
  ecological scientists, strategists, and problem
  solvers
• motivate and engage public action on biodiversity
  protection
• build social networks and information systems to
  accomplish these goals.