302. Beyond tree planting: Unlocking natural regeneration to cost-effectively sequester carbon: 11:30am – 12:30pm

Event time: 11:30am — 12:30pm
Location: Madison Hub South, Convene, 101 Park Avenue
Event organizer: Conservation International

We have less than 10 years. We now know that, in order to avoid catastrophic climate change, carbon must be actively and rapidly removed from the atmosphere. Ecosystem restoration is currently the only approach available to do this at scale. Restoration has the potential to be over 15% of the climate mitigation solution needed to keep atmospheric temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Governments, NGOs, and the private sector are rallying around restoration as an opportunity to heal a dying planet. But meeting the global need by using current restoration approaches could cost over USD$800 billion. How do we cost-effectively restore landscapes, sequester carbon, fix damaged habitats, and provide livelihoods for over the 3.2 billion people who currently suffer from land degradation? This event will begin to answer these questions by making the case for assisted natural regeneration, the ability of ecosystems to restore themselves if they’re given a little help. Leading scientists will discuss how countries and organizations can develop cost-effective approaches to landscape forest restoration in order to rise to the planetary need. The session will end with a video of the development of the largest restoration program in the Brazilian Amazon.

Speakers: a. Bronson Griscom (Conservation International) b. Manuel Guariguata (CIFOR) c. Jennifer Powers (University of Minnesota) d. Moderator: Nikola Alexandre (Conservation International)

Partners/Sponsors: International Institute for Sustainability, Conservation International, CIFOR, University of Minnesota