Torsten Thiele is an expert in ocean governance and finance. He is the founder of Global Ocean Trust; Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam; a visiting fellow at the LSE Institute of Global Affairs; a senior advisor to the IUCN Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Ocean-Climate Platform.
Kaleigh Carlson will present key insights from her recent Masters’ dissertation on the motivations behind community-based resource management (CBRM) in a remote area of the Solomon Islands, where indigenous Kwaio communities are effectively integrating both local knowledge and scientific research in order to conserve their unique culture and wildlife.
Dr Raphaëla le Gouvello (DVM, PhD) has long been involved in the aquaculture field as a veterinarian and she is now working within IUCN’s Ecosystem-based Aquaculture Group of Experts, to explore and document the sustainability of aquaculture on a worldwide basis. She will be presenting some recent work on aquaculture and marine conservation conducted in Zanzibar and elsewhere.
Dr Guillermo Ortuño Crespo is a marine spatial ecologist whose research focuses on understanding the spatial and temporal overlap of high seas fisheries with biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. He was recently awarded his PhD in Marine Science and Conservation by Duke University and will soon be starting a postdoctoral research position at the Stockholm Resilience Centre.
Why would an Australian farmer who moved to Africa in the 1980s be called ‘the forest-maker’? Tony Rinaudo, World Vision Australia's climate action advisor, told this year's Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security how he embarked on his journey to tackle deforestation in Niger and about the challenges he met on the way.
The three-week long Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security was part of the first online version of the Caux Forum and took place from 1–19 July 2020. The conference offered plenaries and workshops on a large range of environmental and health topics. Rinaudo's story was one of a number of case studies from all over the world, which illustrated the connection between climate change, desertification and other environmental issues. They depicted various approaches to transforming conflict and searching for sustainable solutions. (Watch the plenary here).
When Rinaudo moved to Niger in the 1980s he was confronted with a country on the brink of environmental crisis, suffering from severe droughts and accelerated desertification. Niger faced crop failure, famine and an increase in crop-ravaging insects.
His first attempts to tackle the situation were a failure. The locals called him the ‘crazy white farmer’. The early years were ‘very very difficult’, he said.
In time he managed to inspire local farmers to join initiatives for farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR), a strategy which involves pruning out weak tree stumps to help the stronger ones grow faster. The method, which the poorest could implement ‘with a pocket-knife’, led to revolutionary results.
Today Niger has an average of 40 trees per hectare, compared to only four per hectare in the 1980s. The reforestation has led to better supplies of food, fuelwood and water, thereby increasing food security and reducing conflicts over water resources.
Rinaudo concluded: ‘If you work with nature and allow trees to regrow, then nature will care for you and you'll have a better future for yourself and for your children.’
Photo: Reforestation, WWF
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Before taking up his present roles, Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer served as Director of the Peacebuilding and Development Institute (1999-2013) at the International Peace and Conflict Resolution programme of the American University. He has conducted interreligious conflict resolution training and interfaith dialogue workshops in conflict areas around the world, including Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Chad, Niger, Iraq (Kurdistan), Philippines (Mindanao) and Sri Lanka.
Robert Suarez is the founder and director of the Forest Venture Lab where he originates, develops and grows sustainable climate initiatives in the areas of land stewardship, forest health, carbon sequestration and the conversion of woody biomass to higher-value products and services.
Kim Milanes is an English language teacher currently residing in Spain, and will soon move to Germany. She has a long history working with youth of different ages, backgrounds and goals. She participated in the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme in the summer of 2016. This experience enriched her life with the tools to empower not only herself, but now many youth across the world. She believes in being a global citizen and is a strong advocate for mental health, education and community development.
My name is Nour Diab and I work within a humanitarian organization serving refugees in Lebanon. We ensure that children are safe and get their rights. I’ve been involved with IofC since 2016. I took part in the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme for two summers in a row and it was a life-changing experience for me. I had the chance to learn more about leadership, connect with people and most importantly serve others. I am excited about this year’s virtual experience with Caux, especially the Creative Leadership conference.
My name is Faouma Tabet Salem and I am currently doing an MSc in Public Health and Health Promotion in the UK. I believe in education and in empowering the women and girls in my country through building a safe and healthy space for them to grow and succeed. ‘The only thing worth doing is what we do for others’: my goal is to help make an impact in my community, change the system and give back.
