First-ever Nature Needs Half Network reception engages conservation leaders with a new scientific framework and roadmap for the protection of 50% of Earth’s wild lands.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 5th, 2017 – Dozens of conservation leaders gathered on Wednesday of last week at a reception hosted by the Nature Needs Half Network to provide feedback on an audacious plan to protect half the planet’s wilderness by 2030.
Representatives from the scientific, indigenous, arts/media, public, and private spheres invited to attend heard new evidence for the conclusion that protecting half the planet for the benefit of all life on Earth is as feasible as it is necessary.
The highlight of the evening’s program was a presentation by Eric Dinerstein and Carly Vynne-Baker on a new scientific framework that will help decision-makers accurately and efficiently identify critical areas for protection.
The Nature Needs Half Network (NNHN) was launched in 2009 at the 9th World Wilderness Congress (WILD9) in Mérida, Mexico. Its introduction as an actionable science-based plan grounded in an ethic of care for nature at the scale it needs to continue to produce the things people need most was initially viewed with skepticism. Privately, most conservation leaders recognized the vital necessity of protecting half the planet’s wild areas, while maintaining a public position that this goal was too ambitious.
Opinions have since changed with a growing recognition about the severe threats jeopardizing essential natural processes and human well-being. Conservation groups are rapidly adopting the Nature Needs Half vision as the standard by which their work must be measured.
“This gathering of senior leaders is an endorsement of the value and need for Nature Needs Half,” says Vance G. Martin, President of the WILD Foundation and a founding member of Nature Needs Half. “It also underscores the fact that NNH is a non-proprietary, open-architecture movement with partners and collaborators working together in conservation, business, government, entertainment, education, and the arts.”
About Nature Needs Half
Nature Needs Half is an actionable scientific and policy framework grounded in an ethic of respect for nature that makes it easier for leaders at all scales of decision-making to protect and interconnect half the planet’s natural areas. For more information, please visit www.natureneedshalf.org or contact Amy Lewis at (303) 249-5989.
Read also: “New map of life on earth shows how we can halt the world’s sixth great extinction”
While I am fully aware of the urgency to take action in favor of biodiversity, it is also equally important to consider people as part of any strategy. That includes adequately considering the dependencies on and benefits people obtain from biodiversity so that they can sustain their livelihoods, and preserve their culture, identity, and way of life for present and future generations. These elements are particularly important for indigenous peoples and local communities worldwide.
I would have liked to see more thought on these elements as part of the “Nature Needs Half Network”. It does not seem sufficient to invite indigenous peoples to hear new evidence, but engage them in the process of gathering the evidence. That should also include indigenous knowledge. Their traditional knowledge should be given the same importance as scientific and other more academic forms of knowledge.
Indigenous peoples and local communities’ participation and voice are fundamental in any strategy for biodiversity conservation. Following some of their discussions and forums at the international level, indigenous peoples and local communities do not seem happy with the idea of having 30 or 50% of the land on Earth protected. This is because there are important questions regarding this idea, notably:
1. Protect the land from whom? To whom? Who will benefit from that? Certainly not indigenous peoples and local communities.
2. Where will these areas be created? Certainly not in the global north.
Historically, protected areas have had a series of negative impacts on indigenous peoples and local communities. They have been evicted from their lands, a process that often occurred with violence. This has caused serious damage to their livelihoods, traditional knowledge, language, culture, identity, spirituality, and ultimately their lives as all of these are deeply connected to the land and the natural world they have inhabited for generations. Their customary rights to land and biodiversity have been violated over the years of protected areas creation. How is that going to be different this time with the 30 or 50% proposals?
I would strongly suggest that you take further consideration of these issues in your work. Survival International has done extensive work in that area and I would recommend reviewing their studies, and articles, and joining their meetings to listen to other perspectives.
Finally, it sounds obvious to create more areas to protect the incredible diversity of life on Earth. Still, I wonder if there is room to shift the focus a little. For example, considering issues like overexploitation of biodiversity. That would require a look into overconsumption and unsustainable lifestyles, mostly from people living in the global north.
I hope this is helpful. I hope there is more diversity and participation in any idea or strategy suggested to solve the biodiversity crisis.
All the very best!
Hi Fabiana! We appreciate your thoughtful comment. In order to begin responding to your comment, it may be helpful to share a little bit more about WILD’s history and origins. WILD was co-founded by an indigenous leader, Magqubu Ntombela, and has prioritized the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge during the decades of our work. Yes, the basis for Nature Needs Half is partly rooted in scientific and academic knowledge but it is also largely based on Indigenous knowledge and traditions that have stewarded Earth’s life supporting systems for thousands of years. This is why is it critical in our approach to not only include, but also amplify the voices of Indigenous groups worldwide. For this reason, we are also extremely supportive of OECMs (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures) being a part of the Nature Needs Half solution as they are a prime example of the sustainable conservation approaches of Indigenous communities. Our work with the Yawanawá People of the Amazon to help protect their home of 500k+ hectares of rainforest reflects this well. We hope you enjoy reading more about WILD’s work with Indigenous groups as you explore our website further!