Presentation and interactive session on the WEII and other SOWC work, including an exciting new initiative.

• Fred Swaniker, Chair and Founder, African Leadership University
• Dr Sue Snyman, Director of Research, School of Wildlife Conservation, African Leadership University

Where have there been conservation successes and what can we learn from them in order to ensure greater success moving forward, whilst aligning conservation and development.   What are the main drivers of success in conservation? 

In a global first, Africa leads the way in connecting impact aligned investors to high-integrity nature credits projects from across the continent. Join us at the exciting Launch of the African Buyer’s Club.

1. Bridging the gap between conservation and entrepreneurship
2. Evaluating innovative finance models
3. Proof of concept and scalability
4. Aligning investor expectations with conservation needs.

When people feel protected against risks, they’re more willing to share landscapes with wildlife—insurance makes that possible.

Music and popular culture as levers for innovative conservation financing and behaviour change.

A new, innovative business that supports a holistic, landscape approach to conservation, with the primary goal of offering market-linked incentives to small-scale farmers around the Okavango Delta for coexisting with elephants, while creating significant environmental, economic and social impact. 

Strike up conversations and exchange contact details to build connections, partnerships, and collaborations.

Are local communities the only resort for ecosystem-scale conservation? This talk explores why empowering local communities is not just an option but the best strategy for preserving Africa's large landscapes. Through real-world examples and interactive audience engagement, we'll demonstrate how community-led models offer cost-effective, scalable solutions that protect biodiversity and enhance livelihoods.
 

This talk will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize conservation.  We'll discuss why relying solely on traditional methods might not be enough to address today's complex environmental challenges.  AI is transforming various sectors, and conservation is no exception. From identifying endangered species, tracking wildlife populations and predicting habitat changes, together we will envision a future where AI plays a crucial role in ensuring a sustainable future for all.
 

Can a nonhuman species pay for its own protection? In this talk we will unpack a world first: another species holding and spending money based on its AI inferred interests. Together with the Rwanda Ministries of Finance and Technology, the Rwanda Central Bank, and the Rwanda Development Board, Interspecies Money has empowered a family of Rwanda mountain gorillas to hold a secure digital identity and send mobile money payments. We believe this is the first step in a multigenerational, trillion dollar journey for many species to participate in the human market economy in order to improve their life outcomes. 

This fireside chat will delve into what drives success in community-led conservation, highlighting both achievements and obstacles. We will discuss how tailored approaches, capable leadership, and inclusive governance enable communities to benefit from conservation, fostering ownership and economic opportunity through the wildlife economy.

In the complex world of community-led conservation, effective governance is the key to reducing investment risks and ensuring success. This talk delves into how good governance at all levels empowers all stakeholders, aligning interests and fostering partnerships that attract investment and drive sustainable outcomes in conservation-driven social enterprises.

Using biodiversity credits as a tool for making nature investible i.e. turning a biodiversity challenge into an investment opportunity.  This will include the community co-creation approach, where the biodiversity credits concept is applied to turn local knowledge and innovation into opportunities for diversified income streams, making community – led biodiversity conservation economically viable.

How many African youth are prevented from pursuing careers in tourism and conservation? How many NGOs struggle to quantify their long-term programmatic efforts? And how many employers fail to recruit emerging local talent into the employment pipeline? Learn how the Future Rangers Program has developed a scalable approach to connecting passionate youth to the greater wildlife economy through skills development, inclusivity, and technology.

What are the main capacity gaps in the business of conservation sector, how do we fill these and how do we get young people excited about working in the sector.

What is the bioeconomy, the wildlife-based economy, the green economy, the blue economy, the biodiversity economy? And how do they all relate to the wildlife economy? Where do they fit in terms of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and reporting to the CBD and how do we finance more sustainable development linked to conservation. 

Closing reflection from ALU SOWC

Diane Skinner Unsung Conservation Hero Award

Market Place of biocredit projects from across the world