E.O. Wilson (1929–2021) and Sir David Attenborough met in a once-in-a-lifetime discussion on Half-Earth Day 2021, moderated by Sir Tim Smit at the Royal Geographical Society in London, October 22nd. The panel was supported by the James M. and Catherine D. Stone Distinguished Lectureship in Biodiversity, Mishcon de Reya, Eden Project, and Half-Earth Day 2021 presenting sponsor, CBRE.
HALF-EARTH DAY® 2021
October 22
A full day of panel discussions, keynotes, and more
(9 am – 2 pm EDT/1 – 6 pm UTC/2 – 7 pm BST)
HOW TO SAVE THE NATURAL WORLD
moderated by Sir Tim Smit
ECOSYSTEMS & THE HARMONY OF NATURE
A lecture by esteemed biologist and naturalist E.O. Wilson
Closing keynote with E.O. Wilson and Sir David Attenborough in conversation with Tim Smit
(2 – 3:30 pm EDT/6 – 7:30 pm UTC/7 – 8:30 pm BST)
Visit the Half-Earth Day 2021 showcase to find and watch one of the 13 sessions or 9 Voices films, including Saving Biodiversity – the Next Big Thing and E.O. Wilson’s latest lecture, Ecosystems & the Harmony of Nature.
Explore the sessions of Half-Earth Day 2021, from Science and Conservation, Education, and Business and Community tracks, to plenaries like How to Save the Natural World, a conversation with E.O. Wilson and Sir David Attenborough, moderated by Sir Tim Smit. The day’s presenters and panelists included distinguished scientists, conservationists, educators, and business leaders, discussing the path to Half-Earth, and saving global biodiversity.
Plenaries
Half-Earth Day 2021: Opening Session “Courageous Optimism”
As we come together in common cause on Half-Earth Day, this session opens the day with a discussion about the courageous optimism it sometimes takes to forge a more enduring ethic to care for our planet.
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This session provides an Earth system and Anthropocene perspective on why humanity needs to navigate world development within a Half-Earth perspective.
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Johan Rockström (keynote)
Half-Earth Day 2021: Plenary Session “How to Save the Natural World”
The evening plenary featured an Introduction by Walter Jetz and Razan Al Mubarak, keynote by E.O. Wilson: Ecosystems and the Harmony of Nature, followed by a conversation with Sir David Attenborough and E.O. Wilson, moderated by Sir Tim Smit. How to Save the Natural World is supported by the James M. and Catherine D. Stone Distinguished Lectureship in Biodiversity.
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with introduction by
Science and Conservation Sessions
Half-Earth Day 2021: Evidence and Scientific Foundations
Biodiversity conservation critically depends on information about the existence and global distribution of species. This panel of distinguished scientists, moderated by Walter Jetz, addressed taxonomic and biogeographic foundations of conservation and highlighted new data and science advances.
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Half-Earth Day 2021: Perspectives and Approaches
Area-based conservation in a changing world presents unique and evolving challenges and opportunities. This session, featuring leading conservationists and scientists, moderated by Walter Jetz, discussed approaches to measuring and identifying biodiversity change and priority areas for conservation.
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Half-Earth Day 2021: Solutions for Biodiversity and People
Effective biodiversity conservation relies on the support from local communities and the engagement of relevant stakeholders across scales. Moderated by Walter Jetz, this session discussed how scientific evidence can be used in practice to develop conservation solutions that successfully involve people.
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Education and Technology Sessions
Half-Earth Day 2021: A Biodiverse Education: Outdoors, in School, and in the Community
In this session, educators and organizations focus on what’s working and share what’s promising to engage youth and diverse people in nature. The session, moderated by Dennis Liu, featured a variety of short talks from finding awe and wonder, to shaking up the standard school model, to getting outside to engage with nature in city, suburb, and country.
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Half-Earth Day 2021: Half-Earth Project Map Update
This session explored how with 3D mapping technology and high-resolution species data, people can connect local places with the global goal of Half-Earth. Speakers from Map of Life, Esri, and Vizzuality provide an update to the Half-Earth Project Map, moderated by Craig Mills.
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Business and Community Sessions
Half-Earth Day 2021: Companies and Investors for a Half-Earth Future
Hosted and moderated by Keith Tuffley and Anita McBain of Citi, this panel featured distinguished business leaders sharing how companies and investors can come together to support the goal of Half-Earth.
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Half-Earth Day 2021: Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?
This panel of influential conservationists, thinkers and designers, moderated by Jonathan Rose of the Garrison Institute, addressed these questions and more toward understanding the cultural, psychosocial, ethical and spiritual developments necessary for a more balanced future for our planet and the life it supports.
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Half-Earth Day 2021: Dream to Reality
Moderated by Delphine Mallert King, this dynamic session brought together members of the Long Run, who are protecting ecosystems, and scientists to reflect on the challenges of conservation and turning dreams into reality, including the milestones, stumbling blocks and role and limits of science during the journey.
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Voices (short films)
VOICES: Half-Earth Day 2021 and CBRE
The presenting sponsor of Half-Earth Day, CBRE, shares their proactive approach to recognizing the responsibility and opportunity to influence the way buildings are built, sourced, managed, occupied and sold.
VOICES: Half-Earth Day 2021 and Audubon
Watch Dr. Elizabeth Gray, interim CEO of the National Audubon Society, shares her inspiration and what birds can tell us about a changing climate and world.
VOICES: National Geographic Explorer – Rae Wynn-Grant
Watch Rae Wynn-Grant share her journey as a large carnivore ecologist.
VOICES: National Geographic Explorer – Oliver Nsengimana
Watch Oliver Nsengimana share his motivation to protect the Gray-crowned crane of Rwanda.
VOICES: A Message from E.O. Wilson
Watch the story of E.O. Wilson’s message upon the 2019 Great Walden BioBlitz, courtesy of the Redford Center.
VOICES: Half-Earth Day 2021 and Esri
Watch Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, David Gadsden and Ryan Perkl explore the inspiration behind 30×30, and community conservation, introduced by Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist at Esri.
VOICES: Half-Earth Day 2021 and Gorongosa National Park
Scientists and technicians, several Half-Earth Scholars at the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory in Gorongosa National Park share their taxonomic contributions to better protect species in Mozambique.
VOICES: My Garden of A Thousand Bees (Excerpt)
Watch an excerpt from My Garden of a Thousand Bees by filmmaker Martin Dohrn.
Watch Martin Dohrn’s conversation about filming bees in the backyard with Dennis Liu of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, courtesy of HHMI Tangled Bank Pictures, PBS/Nature and Passion Pictures.
