E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation

Congratulations to Pitzer College’s Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability on the launch of SoCal Earth, a new hub for environmental information and transformation in Southern California. The project is live at https://lnkd.in/ezB5VZAG.   The platform makes complex data accessible to the public, ensuring conversations about planning, housing, poverty, food access, wildlife and more can all see high-quality data and better understand the impact of decisions. Director Susan Phillips says, “It's an invitation to explore, and to empower yourself through that exploration.” It’s no surprise these words, and this project, resonate with our organization.   We’re also happy to see the work of the Half-Earth Project included in the biodiversity section. It’s a testament to the SoCal Earth’s emphasis on the interconnectedness of ecological data, as well as the deep and far-reaching significance of the Half-Earth Project.    This work is a tremendous achievement and the entry point for many, many conversations about putting community and climate first. We’re excited to see the impact it’s sure to make.   The Nature Conservancy Esri #SoCalEarth #EveryDecisionCounts #CommunityFirstClimateFirst #HalfEarthProject #KnowledgeForLife

Congratulations to Mélanie Wenger, who was just awarded the Vital Impacts 2024-25 Environmental Photography Grant dedicated to E.O. Wilson! Her project, Saving the Amazon of Europe, focusing on the collaborative efforts to protect the biodiversity of the Danube Basin against climate threats. We'd like to thank Ami V. and Vital Impacts for dedicating an award to E.O. Wilson, and for empowering these individuals using their talents to inspire change. We celebrate and admire the work of all of this year's recipients!

40% of intact ecosystems on Earth are managed by Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples speak more than 4,000 languages and hold rich knowledge systems. Nearly 50% of globally threatened mammals find protection in Indigenous lands. In solidarity with Nia Tero, we are proud to do our part to elevate and amplify the voices and messages of Indigenous Peoples around the world. During Half-Earth Day 2024, we heard two Indigenous voices, Chadiz Valentina and Carmen Rosa Guerra Ariza, share their perspectives and experiences about championing Indigenous Peoples and knowledge. Indigenous Peoples and their traditional knowledge must be included in global discussions about managing and protecting ecosystems, as world leaders make crucial decisions addressing biodiversity loss. #IndigenousGuardianship #COP16Colombia #PeaceWithNature #KnowledgeForLife

Yesterday evening was a magnificent celebration of knowledge, legacy, hope, and a shared admiration for the natural world we work so hard to protect. Thank you to all of our speakers, performers, and attendees for making it so special. And to ADM, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Nature and Culture International, and Esri, whose generous support makes this event and so much other vital work possible.   As E.O. Wilson said in Half-Earth, “It is our nature to choose large goals that, while difficult, are potentially game-changing and universal in benefit. To strive against odds on behalf of all life would be humanity at its most noble.” Stay tuned as session recordings and other highlights from the evening become available.   Now, as we shift our focus to the remainder of COP16, we can only hope to continue this momentum. During yesterday’s program, Walter Jetz provided a sneak peak of the first annual Species Protection Index Report, which is now available here: https://lnkd.in/dHJeqaEi The report highlights key takeaways from the Species Protection Index in 2024, representing the current global state of species protection. The Species Protection Report is a collaborative effort of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s Half-Earth Project, the Map of Life (MOL), the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), and Esri.

Join us this evening for Half-Earth Day 2024, where we will convene to share knowledge – Knowledge for Life – and imagine, together, what life in harmony with nature could look like.   The evening will open with our short film “Listening to the Quiet,” a timeless video message from Harrison Ford, who worked with E.O. Wilson for nearly three decades to champion the conservation of global biodiversity. The two revered each other’s friendship, and Harrison is proud to honor Ed by supporting his lasting mission, carried out through the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and Half-Earth Project.   We hope to see you for what is sure to be a special evening.   ⏰ 7:30 – 10:00 PM ET / 6:30 – 9:00 PM in Cali (GMT-5) 📍 Comfandi Cultural Center 6-23 Calle 8 (La Casa Humboldt) Cali, Valle del Cauca 760044 Colombia   English livestream: https://lnkd.in/dzR2-92E Spanish livestream: https://lnkd.in/dcQsdZkk

Checking in from Day 1 of COP16 Colombia! We connected with Alison Taylor and our partners at ADM and enjoyed Walter Jetz's presentation about Target 21.1 at the GEO BON Pavilion, in which he previewed the Species Protection Index Global Report we're releasing this week. Next up: Half-Earth Day 2024! Paula Ehrlich Brooks Bonner Niquole Esters

This year, we’re very pleased to share that four Half-Earth Day celebrations will take place across three continents! Wherever you are, we hope that you join us in spirit as people around the world lean in to advance our hopes through these events. 1️⃣ 🇨🇴 Half-Earth Day 2024 will take place alongside COP16 Colombia in Cali. Virtual and in-person registration is still open: https://lnkd.in/e7fuZQ9G 2️⃣ 🇮🇹 This past weekend, Una Sola Terra Festival in Brescia, Italy enjoyed the second annual edition of their event, where the discussion centered around ways in which we can preserve our planet. To learn more, visit https://unasolaterra.it/ 3️⃣ 🇺🇸 In Dallas, Texas, EarthX is celebrating Half-Earth Day with an evening for awareness, education, networking and announcements. You can register or learn more at: https://lnkd.in/egzybhTA 4️⃣ 🇮🇹 Finally, La Federazione Italiana dei Parchi e delle Riserve Naturali (Federparchi) is hosting a Half-Earth Day webinar, mirroring our theme of “Knowledge for Life.” Registration is still open: https://lnkd.in/eZ5_Dgwv Thank you to all who worked to bring these events to life. This year's celebrations promise to be a special moment for conservation, and we're so excited to share it with all of you.

We stand on the shoulders of giants, and from that perch, in this moment, we can see more clearly than we ever have before. These words from Paula Ehrlich at Half-Earth Day 2023 still ring true. Tomorrow, we celebrate Half-Earth Day 2024. Join us in exploring how we can leverage knowledge to support global species conservation, with an incredible lineup of speakers and performances. Virtual and in-person registration remains open. We hope to see you there! https://lnkd.in/e7fuZQ9G

Tomorrow marks the start of #COP16Colombia! Below is where you’ll find us throughout the week. Half-Earth Day 2024: Knowledge for Life 📆 Tuesday, October 22 📍 La Casa Humboldt 👉 Registration is open through tomorrow for online and in-person attendees! https://lnkd.in/e7fuZQ9G Session: Species-focused indicators and decision-support with the Map of Life and the Half-Earth Project Map 📆 Wednesday, October 23 ⏰ 10:00am - 11:30am 📍 Stage Area, Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacífico (Blue Zone) 👥 Map of Life, Claire Hoffmann, Ph.D., Alexander Killion, Walter Jetz Session: Unlocking Global Biodiversity Data from the Half-Earth Project 📆 Wednesday, October 23 ⏰ 1:15pm - 2:45pm 📍 Stage Area, Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacífico (Blue Zone) 👥 Esri Comment below if you would like to connect at any time throughout the week. See you there!

We asked our team about their favorite ways to engage with Half-Earth Day. The second: Explore Nature. E.O. Wilson coined the term “Biophilia” to describe humans’ innate tendency to be drawn to nature, and he believed two elements are necessary in order to care for our planet: 1️⃣ Discovering and understanding everything about nature 2️⃣ Encouraging an exciting adventure in nature. Our team shared a few ideas inspired by that second bit. First, spend some time in E.O. Wilson’s home state of Alabama, contains some of the most unique and diverse ecosystems in North America, including the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, which has been called “America’s Amazon.” Second, if you’re in the U.S., visit one of the many incredible state and national parks, which have numerous free-to-visit days throughout the year. We’ve added a few spots that our team loves to visit to connect with nature. Finally, step outside, find some quiet, and simply listen. Pay attention to and appreciate that which surrounds you, for it is all part of the complex web that sustain life on earth. Harrison Ford says it beautifully in our short film, Listening to the Quiet: https://lnkd.in/eY_yEYMM Get out there. 🌏🐜