Half-Earth Met with Standing Ovations at IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016

President of the IUCN, Mr. Zhang Xinsheng (left) congratulates E.O. Wilson following his keynote address at the Opening Forum of the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016.

In a widely-covered international event, E.O. Wilson gave an Opening Forum keynote about Half-Earth to a gathering of stakeholders from public, private, and non-governmental organizations at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016 in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Half-Earth was a focal theme of the Congress, and “Half-Earth” was enthusiastically received by those in attendance and those watching the gathering from afar.

E.O. Wilson receives a standing ovation following his keynote address at the Opening Forum of the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016.

From left: Chairman & CEO of Conservation International Peter Seligmann, E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation President & CEO Paula Ehrlich, and E.O. Wilson. Photo: CORY LUMCIVIL BEAT.

E.O. Wilson sits down with Alison Sudol, star of the upcoming “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” to discuss the importance of biodiversity, both real and magical.

E.O. Wilson talks with Nick Grube (Honolulu Civil Beat) and Chris D’Angelo (Huffington Post) about his greatest fears, and how climate change could have a devastating impact on the biodiversity of our planet. He advocates setting aside half the Earth’s surface for nature, and notes that there is a shift in public awareness that gives him great hope for the future.

Watch E.O. Wilson’s presentation at IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016
(Introduction of E.O. Wilson begins at 1:54:14)

Press Coverage

Thomas Friedman writes about “Half-Earth” in his op-ed “We Are All Noah Now” in The New York Times (September 7, 2016)

Huffington Post coverage of the IUCN World Conservation Congress