Studies show that if we conserve half of our land and seas, at least 85 percent of species will be protected from extinction. Half-Earth Day is a celebration and a call to action, bringing together leaders in conservation from around the world and across disciplines to share their ideas and inspire innovative and impactful conservation efforts with this audacious goal in mind.
The all-day, inaugural event, featuring special guests including renowned biologist, researcher, theorist, naturalist, and author Edward O. Wilson, biologist and author Sean B. Carroll, and legendary recording artist Paul Simon, will be held in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2017. Half-Earth Day is sponsored by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and hosted by National Geographic as part of our partnership to explore and protect the living Earth.
Half-Earth Day will highlight conservation efforts from the Gorongosa Restoration Project, Tompkins Conservation, African Parks, American Prairie Reserve, and National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project. This event is an opportunity for everyone to convene, share their unique contributions and thought leadership, and inspire fresh goal-driven energy and engagement in conserving our planet.
Half-Earth Day is open to both the public and the scientific community.
Conservation in Action: Bringing Half-Earth to Life
This session will highlight model large landscape and ocean conservation efforts. Welcoming remarks will be made by Jonathan Baillie. Speakers will give overviews of their conservation accomplishments and vision for the future, and then join others in a panel discussion moderated by National Geographic Magazine Contributing Writer Jamie Shreeve.
Panelists:
- Tom Butler, Tompkins Conservation
- Alison Fox, American Prairie Reserve
- Dominique Gonçalves, Gorongosa Restoration Project
- Andrea Heydlauff, African Parks
- Enric Sala, Pristine Seas
Watch: Conservation in Action
Watch: Tom Butler, Tompkins Conservation
Watch: Alison Fox, American Prairie Reserve
Watch: Dominique Gonçalves, Gorongosa Restoration Project
Watch: Andrea Heydlauff, African Parks
Watch: Enric Sala, Pristine Seas
Celebrating Half-Earth: Steps to a Solution
The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation Distinguished Lectureship in Biodiversity with naturalist Edward O. Wilson, biologist and author Sean B. Carroll, and legendary recording artist Paul Simon.
Opening remarks will be made by Gary E. Knell and Paula Ehrlich.
Edward O. Wilson and Sean B. Carroll will present the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation Distinguished Lectureship in Biodiversity, discuss what we must do to get to Half-Earth and inspire us with a sense of what Half-Earth could look like. Paul Simon will then share his hopes for Half-Earth.
