Thursday, March 26, 2009

Big Ideas in Conservation


The Next Big Ideas in Conservation - The Future of Protecting Nature - Conservation 2.0

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Climate change has the world's attention now — but not too long ago, most people hadn't even heard of it.

So what's next in conservation? What new ideas will become part of our common lexicon in five, ten or twenty years? Nature.org asked twelve experts from The Nature Conservancy to weigh in on the future of protecting nature. Read their responses — and then tell us what you think the next big idea in conservation should be.

Fast Forward to the Future of Conservation

Eddie Game

A Dow Jones Average for the Environment

Eddie Game
"As conservationists, we need to find our 30 companies."

Rob McDonald

Get Urbanites Interested in Conservation

Rob McDonald
"Urban dwellers influence land use on almost every hectare on Earth."

Brigitte Griswold

Get Kids Back to Nature

Brigitte Griswold
"If today's children aren't experiencing nature, they won't protect it as adults."

Lynne Hale, Mike Beck and Scott Smith

Sea Change for Ocean Management

Lynne Hale, Mike Beck and Scott Smith
"We need to think about an entire seascape."

Jonathon Adams and Alan Holt

Conservationists — Can We Talk?

Jonathon Adams and Alan Holt
"Conservationists often do not communicate about their efforts."

Steve Watkins

Bringing Business to the Parks

Steve Watkins
"Structuring conservation projects with elements of a typical business transaction."

Rob Brumbaugh

A New Market for Shellfish

Rob Brumbaugh
"The services that shellfish provide have real economic value."

Pat Naehu

Small Island Nations: Green Leaders?

Pat Naehu
"Their commitments have rejuvenated global marine conservation."

Alison Bowden

The Turbine Beneath Our Feet

Alison Bowden
"Look for energy innovations that use infrastructure already in place."

Jeff Opperman

Truly Sustainable Hydropower

Jeff Opperman
"Rapid expansion of hydropower poses a thorny challenge."

Mike McManus

Taking a Census of Nature

Mike McManus
"The environmental science equivalent to census data for demographers."

Rebecca Goldman

Measuring Conservation Success

Rebecca Goldman
"We need to ensure delivery of our promises."

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © View from a cliff in Ecuador (Mark Godfrey/TNC); © Female bobolink, Nebraska (Chris Helzer/TNC).