We regret to announce that, at the direction of the Rwandan Government, this year's @kwita.izina (Kwita Izina) celebrations have been postponed. As a result, the in-person Business of Conservation Conference 2024 will also be rescheduled.
We remain dedicated to fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration on conservation in Africa, and we’ll share new plans with you soon. Thank you for your understanding!
About BCC
The Business of Conservation Conference (BCC) aims to catalyse economic development in Africa through the sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources by convening influential leaders to collaborate in ways that promote and unlock the potential of Africa's wildlife economy. It also aims to change the narrative about conservation to one where conservation and development are not seen as mutually exclusive, but are sustainably aligned and where conservation is recognised as being everyone’s business and an economic opportunity for the continent.
BCC is one of a series of events in the lead up to the 20th Kwita Izina, which this year has the theme of: “A legacy of community-centred conservation, securing a sustainable future for All”.
Despite decades of increasing the number of protected areas, we are still seeing a decline in biodiversity…there is a need for change and we have to change the way we think and talk about conservation. We need to change the narrative about conservation to one where conservation and development align and are not seen as mutually exclusive. We need to consistently include people in the conservation narrative and ensure that conservation is about protecting nature for people, not from people. The current threats to biodiversity and growing negative impacts of climate change have clearly illustrated the importance of nature to all - conservation is everyone’s business.
BCC 2024 will look at how we can change the conservation narrative, including new and innovative approaches to ensure positive, sustainable change.
Why BCC?
Our goal is to influence current leaders in politics, business, government, technology, philanthropy, media etc. such that they prioritise conservation issues that threaten the quality of life for current and future generations. This is urgent as time and resources are disappearing at an alarming rate. We also aim to identify young Africans with leadership potential and develop them into highly capable leaders who will ensure a sustainable future for one of Africa's most valuable resources - wildlife.
Our objectives this year include;
Raising awareness about the need to change the conservation narrative and providing concrete, innovative examples of how to do this, as well as stimulating discussion to unlock new ideas.
Determining and discussing everyone’s role in the business of conservation and how to collaborate and grow our impact.
Developing a pipeline of conservation leaders for Africa and connecting stakeholders through interactive discussions and projects
This year's theme
Agenda
Our sessions are designed to be engaging, informative, and thought-provoking, utilising various unconventional and interactive formats. Get ready for:
- Fireside Chats: Intimate conversations that will ignite your passion.
- Lightning or Ignite Talks: Short, powerful presentations to inspire action.
- Expert Clinics: Personalised advice from the best in the business.
- Think Tanks: Collaborative spaces for generating bold new ideas
BCC 2024 Sub-themes
The conference will be a mix of plenary and breakout sessions to ensure active engagement with and for all participants.
This sub-theme will include innovative financing solutions and tools, including but not limited to payment for ecosystem services, biodiversity offsets, carbon and biodiversity credits, NFTs, nature-based solutions, debt for nature swaps, nature/wildlife bonds, potential value of the circular economy as a tool for biodiversity recovery, impact investments - including tools/frameworks to measure biodiversity in an affordable manner.
This sub-theme will look at wildlife economy activity contributions to communities and conservation; effective participation and engagement of communities in conservation, the wildlife economy and the broader business of conservation to ensure equitable and effective empowerment and inclusion of communities.
This sub-theme will look at innovations in the blue economy, specifically related to the broader wildlife economy, include marine and coastal tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, blue carbon, etc.
This sub-theme will include innovations in this space including how technology can bring financial resources to conservation, how it can support data and decision-making; how we can use technology to promote biodiversity conservation, measure and monitor biodiversity, quantify biodiversity value, reach markets, certify sustainable practices, etc.
This sub-theme will focus on all aspects of biotrade and how to grow the related value chains.
This sub-theme will look at the value of the wildlife economy and raising awareness related to this and unlocking the potential of the wildlife economy. It will also cover building capacity in the conservation sector to measure impact, and manage and support the business of conservation.
Last year at BCC 2023, we launched the inaugural Diane Skinner Award for Unsung Hero in Conservation in partnership with the Painted Wolf Foundation (PWF) to recognise and celebrate the unsung heroes in our communities and to acknowledge exceptional individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective conservation fields.
The award was initiated to honour the memory of Diane Skinner, the Executive Director of the Painted Wolf Foundation, whom we sadly lost in 2022.
We are delighted to announce the launch of the 2024 Diane Skinner Award Nomination process. We encourage you to nominate individuals who reflect Diane’s values: a passion for making a difference in wildlife conservation coupled with a work ethic that avoids unnecessary self-promotion or recognition. Please complete the nomination form, sharing images and videos (if possible) of their work. Note that it is possible to renominate someone from last year. Nominations will close on July 31, 2024.
Make a difference and be a part of something impactful. We would love for you to partner with us through various sponsorship packages at BCC 2024.
By sponsoring our event, you will have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the sector and gain valuable exposure for your brand. We have attached our sponsorship document below for you to learn more about the various benefits and opportunities available to you. Don't miss out on this chance to be a part of our conference and help shape the future of the sector.
Standard Registration fee from August 1st, 2024
$250
Group Discounts
20% discount on group registrations
Email businessofconservation@alueducation.com to enjoy the discount
Special discounted rate of $50 for students
Who attends?
By registering for BCC, you agree for your data to be stored according to required regulations and for your image to be used and shared on relevant platforms.
Partners
Where?