Conservation Optimism Summit

This 2 hour slot contains two 1 hour sessions, which must be booked together.

11:00-12:00 Is Optimism Enough? Engaging Values and Virtues in Mobilising Communities for Conservation.
David Bookless and Chris Naylor

In one of this poems, the American agrarian philosopher Wendell Berry says "Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts." This workshop accepts the premise that positive approaches to conservation are required but questions whether optimism is sufficient in engaging whole sectors, cultures and worldviews. Rather, building on 30+ years experience of community-based conservation in 20+ countries from the faith-based A Rocha movement (www.arocha.org), this workshop will look at engaging deeply held values as a motivating force for conservation. Where key sectors share common values based on faith, culture or ideology, this can promote virtue-based attitudes towards nature (such as joy, hope, and love) and shared stories which reinforce behavioural change and support conservation. The workshop will be led by Dave Bookless and Chris Naylor. Dave is A Rocha International's Director of Theology, has 20+ years experience of faith-based conservation work in multfaith urban communities and is completing a PhD comparing secular and faith-based approaches to the value of nonhuman animals. Chris is Executive Director of A Rocha International and formerly founded and led a conservation project engaging faith communities in the Bekaa valley, Lebanon.

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12:00-13:00 Edutainment as Strategic Marketing for Conservation
Rebecca Goldstone, Avra Lorrimer & Michael Stern
Since 2006, the New Nature Foundation has employed “edutainment” to facilitate learning and love of the environment.  After a brief review of our methods and those being used by one of the world’s top marketing firms, we’d like to hear how others are doing this in various settings and facilitate a discussion for symposium attendees from the field, academia and business to brainstorm and help one another improve this aspect of the work.  Can modern marketing tactics be used both on the front lines of conservation and while publicizing results? Capitalizing on humankind’s innate desire to play and have fun and associating positive experiences with environmental protection will help transform conservation into a more optimistic endeavor - - in the field, in the classroom and in the office.  Many NGOs and for-profit institutions are making positive differences in the world.  How can successes be better shared with the public at large, inspiring them to embrace conservation into their everyday lives while also drawing attention to immediate needs around the world?
Rebecca Goldstone is the Founder & President of New Nature Foundation; Avra Lorrimer is a Managing Director at Hill + Knowlton Strategies; Michael Stern is the co-Founder of New Nature Foundation