2013 Fuller Symposium: Forces for Nature

Forces for Nature: The Power of Communities to Protect the Planet
November 13, 2013 | National Geographic Society | Washington, D.C.

Around the world, local communities and indigenous peoples depend on natural resources such as forests, wildlife, and water for their ways of life. These communities are often found caught in the middle as growing global demands threaten their resource base. The 2013 Fuller Symposium explored how local and indigenous communities can empower themselves by managing their own natural resources—and in turn become a global force for conservation.

Speakers from around the world engaged in active discussion around topics including local responses to forces like land grabbing and climate change, evaluation of community conservation impacts, new technologies for catalyzing social movements, private-sector initiatives, and global policy opportunities. The annual Fuller Symposium convenes thought leaders in science, policy, conservation, and development to discuss innovative approaches to complex issues facing our planet.

This one day event took place on November 13, 2013 at the National Geographic Society’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Schedule for 2013 Fuller Symposium

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9:00 a.m. Welcome

9:15 a.m. Session 1: Global Threats, Local Actions

Introduction
Jenny Springer, Director of Global Programs, Rights and Resources Initiative
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David and Goliath? Global forces vs. local interests
Dr. Camilla Toulmin, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development
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Winning Isn’t Everything: Coming to grips with tradeoffs in conservation and development
Thomas McShane, Senior Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University
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Indigenous Amazonia: On the front lines in the race to avoid ecosystem collapse
Andrew Miller, Advocacy Director, Amazon Watch
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11:10 a.m. Session 2: The Science of Community Interventions

Introduction
Dr. Ken Chomitz, Senior Advisor, Independent Evaluation Group, the World Bank Group
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Varieties of Environmentalisms: Intrinsic motivations and external incentives for conservation
Dr. Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Wealth, Health, and Wildlife: Impacts of communal conservancies in Namibia
Dr. Robin Naidoo, Senior Conservation Scientist, WWF-US

Catalyzing Coastal Conservation: Making local marine management make sense
Dr. Alasdair Harris, Founder and Research Director, Blue Ventures
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Lunch Break

1:40 p.m. Session 3: Innovations and Advances

Introduction
Dr. Amy Luers, Director of Climate, Skoll Global Threats Fund
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Technology Meets Conservation: Mobile phones as a tool for community empowerment
Ken Banks, Founder, kiwanja.net and FrontlineSMS
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Financing Community Conservation: Protecting snow leopards and livelihoods in Northern Pakistan
Dr. Shafqat Hussain, Founder and Managing Director, Project Snow Leopard; Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Trinity College
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How Farmers, Food Products and Consumers Are Building a New Model for Conservation in Zambia
Dr. Dale Lewis, Director, Community Markets for Conservation
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3:35 p.m. Session 4: Solutions at Scale

Introduction
Dr. Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio, Senior Associate Director, Rockefeller Foundation
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Engaged Women Drive Change
Dr. Jamie Bechtel, Co-Founder and CEO, New Course
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Think Like a Movement-Builder: How to unlock people’s power to change the world
Jeremy Heimans, Co-Founder and CEO, Purpose
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Private Sector Possibilities: Costco’s evolving sourcing practices
Sheri Flies, Assistant General Merchandising Manager of Global Sourcing, Costco
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5:15 p.m. Keynote Speaker

Adapting in the Arctic: An indigenous perspective on community conservation from Alaska’s North Slope
Edward Itta, Commissioner, US Arctic Research Commission
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5:50 p.m. Evening Reception with Presentation by Philippe Cousteau
Explorer, Social Entrepreneur, Enviromental Advocate and CNN Special Correspondent