I’m a really lucky person because I got to grow up in what for me was paradise
to grow up in what for me was paradise
to grow up in what for me was paradise my dad was a park ranger when I was a
my dad was a park ranger when I was a
my dad was a park ranger when I was a kid so we grew up in some of the most
kid so we grew up in some of the most
kid so we grew up in some of the most beautiful wilderness areas in this
beautiful wilderness areas in this
beautiful wilderness areas in this country and I spent all of my time
country and I spent all of my time
country and I spent all of my time playing in rivers climbing trees and
playing in rivers climbing trees and
playing in rivers climbing trees and examining every living thing I could
examining every living thing I could
examining every living thing I could possibly find and I realized at a very
possibly find and I realized at a very
possibly find and I realized at a very early age that all of the living things
early age that all of the living things
early age that all of the living things that I was examining were intricately
that I was examining were intricately
that I was examining were intricately connected with one another that they
connected with one another that they
connected with one another that they were lied on each other for their
were lied on each other for their
were lied on each other for their survival and as I got older I realized
survival and as I got older I realized
survival and as I got older I realized that that really is what biodiversity is
that that really is what biodiversity is
that that really is what biodiversity is it’s every living thing on this planet
it’s every living thing on this planet
it’s every living thing on this planet from the tiniest microorganism to the
from the tiniest microorganism to the
from the tiniest microorganism to the largest elephant and we all need each
largest elephant and we all need each
largest elephant and we all need each other to survive but I was watching as
other to survive but I was watching as
other to survive but I was watching as all of my wild areas were slowly
all of my wild areas were slowly
all of my wild areas were slowly transformed into steel and concrete and
transformed into steel and concrete and
transformed into steel and concrete and I felt desperate to do something about
I felt desperate to do something about
I felt desperate to do something about it so I got my PhD in ecology and so
it so I got my PhD in ecology and so
it so I got my PhD in ecology and so here we are in 2017 and scientists like
here we are in 2017 and scientists like
here we are in 2017 and scientists like me are predicting that in just 33 years
me are predicting that in just 33 years
me are predicting that in just 33 years by the year 2050 that 30% of our
by the year 2050 that 30% of our
by the year 2050 that 30% of our biodiversity will be extinct if we do
biodiversity will be extinct if we do
biodiversity will be extinct if we do nothing to me that is a terrifying
nothing to me that is a terrifying
nothing to me that is a terrifying reality and in my opinion we are
reality and in my opinion we are
reality and in my opinion we are absolutely responsible for doing
absolutely responsible for doing
absolutely responsible for doing something about it but I’ve been doing
something about it but I’ve been doing
something about it but I’ve been doing local and international conservation
local and international conservation
local and international conservation work now for almost 20 years I grew up
work now for almost 20 years I grew up
work now for almost 20 years I grew up in the conservation community and I’ve
in the conservation community and I’ve
in the conservation community and I’ve never really felt that we were making
never really felt that we were making
never really felt that we were making much progress and that’s because I know
much progress and that’s because I know
much progress and that’s because I know the conservation requires collaboration
the conservation requires collaboration
the conservation requires collaboration amongst almost every sector of our
amongst almost every sector of our
amongst almost every sector of our society and we’re not quite there yet
society and we’re not quite there yet
society and we’re not quite there yet but when I was doing conservation work
but when I was doing conservation work
but when I was doing conservation work in Mongolia I stumbled onto something
in Mongolia I stumbled onto something
in Mongolia I stumbled onto something that really gave me hope and that is
that really gave me hope and that is
that really gave me hope and that is this idea that humans and our large
this idea that humans and our large
this idea that humans and our large corporations really can have a positive
corporations really can have a positive
corporations really can have a positive impact on biodiverse
impact on biodiverse
impact on biodiverse and the thing is is that it’s not just
and the thing is is that it’s not just
and the thing is is that it’s not just an idea anymore so the Wildlife
an idea anymore so the Wildlife
an idea anymore so the Wildlife Conservation Society and forest trends
Conservation Society and forest trends
Conservation Society and forest trends got together with the International
got together with the International
got together with the International Finance Corporation which is a member of
Finance Corporation which is a member of
Finance Corporation which is a member of the World Bank Group and with the
the World Bank Group and with the
the World Bank Group and with the European Bank for Reconstruction and
European Bank for Reconstruction and
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and together they wrote a
Development and together they wrote a
Development and together they wrote a policy that says if these large
policy that says if these large
policy that says if these large Development Bank’s loan money to a large
Development Bank’s loan money to a large
Development Bank’s loan money to a large development project that that project
development project that that project
development project that that project has to show that it will have a net
has to show that it will have a net
has to show that it will have a net positive impact on biodiversity by the
positive impact on biodiversity by the
positive impact on biodiversity by the time of project completion and they have
time of project completion and they have
time of project completion and they have actually set up a system for accounting
actually set up a system for accounting
actually set up a system for accounting for biodiversity gains and losses that
for biodiversity gains and losses that
for biodiversity gains and losses that are tied to their performance standards
are tied to their performance standards
are tied to their performance standards in the same way that financial gains and
in the same way that financial gains and
in the same way that financial gains and losses are tied to their performance
losses are tied to their performance
losses are tied to their performance standards and the really great thing
standards and the really great thing
standards and the really great thing about the Development Bank’s is that
about the Development Bank’s is that
about the Development Bank’s is that they provide loans to some of the
they provide loans to some of the
they provide loans to some of the world’s largest projects and they focus
world’s largest projects and they focus
world’s largest projects and they focus most of that support in developing
most of that support in developing
most of that support in developing countries which is where the majority of
countries which is where the majority of
countries which is where the majority of our biodiversity still is but today it
our biodiversity still is but today it
our biodiversity still is but today it is not just the Development Bank’s that
is not just the Development Bank’s that
is not just the Development Bank’s that have adopted these policies but whole
have adopted these policies but whole
have adopted these policies but whole countries have adopted them as have some
countries have adopted them as have some
countries have adopted them as have some large corporations so Rio Tinto which is
large corporations so Rio Tinto which is
large corporations so Rio Tinto which is the world’s second largest mining
the world’s second largest mining
the world’s second largest mining company adopted an internal net positive
company adopted an internal net positive
company adopted an internal net positive impact policy as early as 2004 and in
impact policy as early as 2004 and in
impact policy as early as 2004 and in 2012 I was hired by the Wildlife
2012 I was hired by the Wildlife
2012 I was hired by the Wildlife Conservation Society to set up an
Conservation Society to set up an
Conservation Society to set up an independent third party biodiversity
independent third party biodiversity
independent third party biodiversity monitoring program for oh you talk way
monitoring program for oh you talk way
monitoring program for oh you talk way and oleate oh boy is the world’s largest
and oleate oh boy is the world’s largest
and oleate oh boy is the world’s largest golden copper mine it is partially owned
golden copper mine it is partially owned
golden copper mine it is partially owned by Rio Tinto and partially owned by the
by Rio Tinto and partially owned by the
by Rio Tinto and partially owned by the country of Mongolia and our goal was to
country of Mongolia and our goal was to
country of Mongolia and our goal was to set up a monitoring program that would
set up a monitoring program that would
set up a monitoring program that would track changes to key biodiversity
track changes to key biodiversity
track changes to key biodiversity indicators and then to tart to determine
indicators and then to tart to determine
indicators and then to tart to determine the cause of those changes in order to
the cause of those changes in order to
the cause of those changes in order to contribute to the banks accounting
contribute to the banks accounting
contribute to the banks accounting metrics well the idea of setting up a
metrics well the idea of setting up a
metrics well the idea of setting up a monitoring project for the world’s
monitoring project for the world’s
monitoring project for the world’s largest golden
largest golden
largest golden her mine seemed daunting to me because
her mine seemed daunting to me because
her mine seemed daunting to me because all you talk eyes footprint its
all you talk eyes footprint its
all you talk eyes footprint its immediate footprint covers ten thousand
immediate footprint covers ten thousand
immediate footprint covers ten thousand acres which is about one-third the size
acres which is about one-third the size
acres which is about one-third the size of Santa Fe New Mexico and its residual
of Santa Fe New Mexico and its residual
of Santa Fe New Mexico and its residual impacts on biodiversity span 90,000
impacts on biodiversity span 90,000
impacts on biodiversity span 90,000 square kilometers which is roughly the
square kilometers which is roughly the
square kilometers which is roughly the size of Maine so we knew it would take
size of Maine so we knew it would take
size of Maine so we knew it would take five to ten years to even begin
five to ten years to even begin
five to ten years to even begin producing results and we know that it
producing results and we know that it
producing results and we know that it will take the next 30 years to really
will take the next 30 years to really
will take the next 30 years to really determine what their impacts are but all
determine what their impacts are but all
determine what their impacts are but all you told I did what is they followed
you told I did what is they followed
you told I did what is they followed what is called the mitigation hierarchy
what is called the mitigation hierarchy
what is called the mitigation hierarchy and the mitigation hierarchy says that
and the mitigation hierarchy says that
and the mitigation hierarchy says that they must do four things first they must
they must do four things first they must
they must do four things first they must avoid any impacts they can on
avoid any impacts they can on
avoid any impacts they can on biodiversity by simply placing their
biodiversity by simply placing their
biodiversity by simply placing their facilities outside of any critical
facilities outside of any critical
facilities outside of any critical habitat and away from key ecosystem
habitat and away from key ecosystem
habitat and away from key ecosystem services and second they’re responsible
services and second they’re responsible
services and second they’re responsible for minimizing their impacts on
for minimizing their impacts on
for minimizing their impacts on biodiversity by simply employing smart
biodiversity by simply employing smart
biodiversity by simply employing smart management scenarios and third they have
management scenarios and third they have
management scenarios and third they have to restore any habitat that was directly
to restore any habitat that was directly
to restore any habitat that was directly impacted by development to something
impacted by development to something
impacted by development to something close to its original state
close to its original state
close to its original state and lastly in order to get to a net
and lastly in order to get to a net
and lastly in order to get to a net positive game or no net loss in
positive game or no net loss in
positive game or no net loss in biodiversity
biodiversity
biodiversity they’re responsible for offsetting any
they’re responsible for offsetting any
they’re responsible for offsetting any residual impacts that they did have on
residual impacts that they did have on
residual impacts that they did have on biodiversity and an example of an offset
biodiversity and an example of an offset
biodiversity and an example of an offset is when say an equal amount of habitat
is when say an equal amount of habitat
is when say an equal amount of habitat to that which was destroyed is set aside
to that which was destroyed is set aside
to that which was destroyed is set aside in perpetuity for the species that was
in perpetuity for the species that was
in perpetuity for the species that was impacted well one problem arose when oil
impacted well one problem arose when oil
impacted well one problem arose when oil Togo was implementing the mitigation
Togo was implementing the mitigation
Togo was implementing the mitigation hierarchy Rio Tinto and the government
hierarchy Rio Tinto and the government
hierarchy Rio Tinto and the government of Mongolia purchased oil Italy from
of Mongolia purchased oil Italy from
of Mongolia purchased oil Italy from another mining company and so
another mining company and so
another mining company and so construction of the mine had already
construction of the mine had already
construction of the mine had already begun before they entered into
begun before they entered into
begun before they entered into agreements with the Development Bank
thus they were unable to avoid or
thus they were unable to avoid or minimize many of their impacts and they
minimize many of their impacts and they
minimize many of their impacts and they decided to focused instead on restoring
decided to focused instead on restoring
decided to focused instead on restoring an offsetting which is not ideal and
an offsetting which is not ideal and
an offsetting which is not ideal and then another problem arose of course the
then another problem arose of course the
then another problem arose of course the positive work that all you Tolga was
positive work that all you Tolga was
positive work that all you Tolga was trying to
trying to
trying to for biodiversity was in many cases
for biodiversity was in many cases
for biodiversity was in many cases undermine by other companies operating
undermine by other companies operating
undermine by other companies operating in the same region and except for
in the same region and except for
in the same region and except for example oh you Thole constructed a paved
example oh you Thole constructed a paved
example oh you Thole constructed a paved export road on which they plan to
export road on which they plan to
export road on which they plan to install a series of under passes for
install a series of under passes for
install a series of under passes for wildlife but running exactly parallel to
wildlife but running exactly parallel to
wildlife but running exactly parallel to that road was a dirt road used by coal
that road was a dirt road used by coal
that road was a dirt road used by coal mining companies with a lot more traffic
mining companies with a lot more traffic
mining companies with a lot more traffic and a lot more desk pollution and these
and a lot more desk pollution and these
and a lot more desk pollution and these companies were not responsible for
companies were not responsible for
companies were not responsible for adhering to the same net positive impact
adhering to the same net positive impact
adhering to the same net positive impact policy as oito boi because they did not
policy as oito boi because they did not
policy as oito boi because they did not have development bank loans and because
have development bank loans and because
have development bank loans and because the country of Mongolia does not have
the country of Mongolia does not have
the country of Mongolia does not have its own net positive impact policy so
its own net positive impact policy so
its own net positive impact policy so many people argue that it’s ineffective
many people argue that it’s ineffective
many people argue that it’s ineffective to have a net positive impact policy for
to have a net positive impact policy for
to have a net positive impact policy for one company if all of the companies in
one company if all of the companies in
one company if all of the companies in the region are not responsible for
the region are not responsible for
the region are not responsible for adhering to the same policy which is
adhering to the same policy which is
adhering to the same policy which is mostly true but that’s why I’m here
mostly true but that’s why I’m here
mostly true but that’s why I’m here because if we are going to stop the
because if we are going to stop the
because if we are going to stop the extinction of 30% of our biodiversity by
extinction of 30% of our biodiversity by
extinction of 30% of our biodiversity by 2050 then we cannot rely on one or a few
2050 then we cannot rely on one or a few
2050 then we cannot rely on one or a few policies to change the world
policies to change the world
policies to change the world these policies need to be adopted on a
these policies need to be adopted on a
these policies need to be adopted on a global scale
global scale
global scale whole countries need to adopt them so
whole countries need to adopt them so
whole countries need to adopt them so that all of the companies operating in a
that all of the companies operating in a
that all of the companies operating in a particular region are responsible for
particular region are responsible for
particular region are responsible for mitigating their cumulative impacts on
mitigating their cumulative impacts on
mitigating their cumulative impacts on biodiversity but just because it’s
biodiversity but just because it’s
biodiversity but just because it’s important to start large or it’s
important to start large or it’s
important to start large or it’s important to come up with these global
important to come up with these global
important to come up with these global policies doesn’t mean that starting
policies doesn’t mean that starting
policies doesn’t mean that starting small and local is not effective so
small and local is not effective so
small and local is not effective so right here in New Mexico the Fish and
right here in New Mexico the Fish and
right here in New Mexico the Fish and Wildlife Service set up a program
Wildlife Service set up a program
Wildlife Service set up a program wherein it asked oil and gas companies
wherein it asked oil and gas companies
wherein it asked oil and gas companies and private landowners in southern New
and private landowners in southern New
and private landowners in southern New Mexico
Mexico
Mexico to voluntarily sign up for a program
to voluntarily sign up for a program
to voluntarily sign up for a program that would help protect a highly
that would help protect a highly
that would help protect a highly threatened species of lizard and
threatened species of lizard and
threatened species of lizard and surprisingly all of the companies or 80%
surprisingly all of the companies or 80%
surprisingly all of the companies or 80% of the companies did sign up and that
of the companies did sign up and that
of the companies did sign up and that resulted in the removal of over 800
resulted in the removal of over 800
resulted in the removal of over 800 Wells from the lizard’s habitat
Wells from the lizard’s habitat
Wells from the lizard’s habitat in addition all of the participants
in addition all of the participants
in addition all of the participants agreed to never place any new Wells
agreed to never place any new Wells
agreed to never place any new Wells inside of the lizards critical habitat
inside of the lizards critical habitat
inside of the lizards critical habitat pretty amazing but there are some less
pretty amazing but there are some less
pretty amazing but there are some less inspiring realities you should know
inspiring realities you should know
inspiring realities you should know about all you totally are
about all you totally are
about all you totally are Rio Tinto just this year withdrew its
Rio Tinto just this year withdrew its
Rio Tinto just this year withdrew its commitment to have a net positive impact
commitment to have a net positive impact
commitment to have a net positive impact on biodiversity and that is because
on biodiversity and that is because
on biodiversity and that is because after 10 years of trying they didn’t
after 10 years of trying they didn’t
after 10 years of trying they didn’t feel that it was actually possible to do
feel that it was actually possible to do
feel that it was actually possible to do so they still remain committed to
so they still remain committed to
so they still remain committed to environmental stewardship and hope that
environmental stewardship and hope that
environmental stewardship and hope that they can have a net positive impact on
they can have a net positive impact on
they can have a net positive impact on their projects in the future so I ask
their projects in the future so I ask
their projects in the future so I ask you why don’t we help them why don’t we
you why don’t we help them why don’t we
you why don’t we help them why don’t we help them instead of blaming them for
help them instead of blaming them for
help them instead of blaming them for extracting the same resources we all
extracting the same resources we all
extracting the same resources we all depend on I know that having a positive
depend on I know that having a positive
depend on I know that having a positive impact on biodiversity as possible
impact on biodiversity as possible
impact on biodiversity as possible because 80% of our planet’s most
because 80% of our planet’s most
because 80% of our planet’s most biodiverse regions are occupied by
biodiverse regions are occupied by
biodiverse regions are occupied by indigenous communities they have been
indigenous communities they have been
indigenous communities they have been safeguarding and enhancing our
safeguarding and enhancing our
safeguarding and enhancing our biodiversity for 11,000 years since the
biodiversity for 11,000 years since the
biodiversity for 11,000 years since the beginning of the Holocene and if our
beginning of the Holocene and if our
beginning of the Holocene and if our ancestors could figure out how to have a
ancestors could figure out how to have a
ancestors could figure out how to have a positive impact on biodiversity then
positive impact on biodiversity then
positive impact on biodiversity then certainly modern humans with all of our
certainly modern humans with all of our
certainly modern humans with all of our technology and all of our education can
technology and all of our education can
technology and all of our education can do the same and if the world’s second
do the same and if the world’s second
do the same and if the world’s second largest mining company can even imagine
largest mining company can even imagine
largest mining company can even imagine that it could have a positive impact on
that it could have a positive impact on
that it could have a positive impact on biodiversity then certainly smaller and
biodiversity then certainly smaller and
biodiversity then certainly smaller and less impactful companies can do the same
less impactful companies can do the same
less impactful companies can do the same I don’t think it will be easy coming up
I don’t think it will be easy coming up
I don’t think it will be easy coming up with solutions will require the same
with solutions will require the same
with solutions will require the same kind of focus we give to space travel or
kind of focus we give to space travel or
kind of focus we give to space travel or the development of any new technology
the development of any new technology
the development of any new technology but each and every one of us can begin
but each and every one of us can begin
but each and every one of us can begin to contribute to these goals by
to contribute to these goals by
to contribute to these goals by investing in and buying products from
investing in and buying products from
investing in and buying products from companies that have net positive impact
companies that have net positive impact
companies that have net positive impact policies and we can start to create net
policies and we can start to create net
policies and we can start to create net positive impact policies for our own
positive impact policies for our own
positive impact policies for our own businesses cities and states but most of
businesses cities and states but most of
businesses cities and states but most of all we can stop blaming our large
all we can stop blaming our large
all we can stop blaming our large corporations and start helping them come
corporations and start helping them come
corporations and start helping them come up with solutions that do work the first
up with solutions that do work the first
up with solutions that do work the first step in doing that is to believe that we
step in doing that is to believe that we
step in doing that is to believe that we can live in paradise I know it’s
can live in paradise I know it’s
can live in paradise I know it’s possible because I grew up there and I
possible because I grew up there and I
possible because I grew up there and I hope all of our children will get to as
hope all of our children will get to as
hope all of our children will get to as well
well
well [Applause]
”
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