Nature Futures 2023: Emerging Trends for Nature-Based Enterprises, 15th March, 14:00 - 15:30 CET
If you are working with and for nature and biodiversity, you can’t miss this event organised by the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform - it is all about key trends and new innovations in a variety of nature-positive sectors across the globe.
From regenerative agriculture, tourism and forestry to green buildings and cities, ecosystem restoration, natural water management, health & wellbeing and smart tech solutions, we will hear from inspiring industry leaders and experts about opportunities and trends.
Nature Futures 2023 is a horizon scanning event that brings together 10 industry leading speakers from across the world of nature-based solutions. Together we will explore the latest trends, challenges and opportunities for nature-based enterprises in 2023 and beyond.
Our speakers will be paired in 5 x 15 minute discussions on sectors from Regenerative Tourism, Forestry and Agricultures to Ecosystem Restoration, Green Buildings & Water Management, not to mention Urban Landscapes, Community Engagement and Smart Tech.
On March 15th at 14:00 (CET) this 90 minute event will bring you these unique insights and high level trends which will then be explored in further webinars the Connectin Nature Enterprise Platform (CNEP) has planned for the coming months.
Finally, we are delighted to have Biodiversity & NbS Policy Officer, Fleur Van Ooststroom-Brummel, of the European Commission join us for our opening address.
Speaker Pairings, Sessions and Subjects
Water Management & Green Buildings
- Speakers: Fabio Masi of IRIDRA & Moein Nodehi of Biotonomy
- Fabio will discuss nature-based solutions in and for water. From flood management to wastewater reuse in agriculture and close-loop water recycling in urban settlements to the integration of functional blue-green infrastructure in the urban mode.
- Moein paints a vision of NbS integration in buildings, beyond vertical gardens and green roofs. He will discuss the challenge of greenwashing as the sector moves forward at pace and explore the role of buildings in ecosystem restoration.
Urban Landscapes & Community Engagement
- Speakers: Daniela Rizzi of ICLEI and Dimitra Xidous of EM|Path
- Daniela discusses the New European Bauhaus initiative, its 3 principles of inclusion, aesthetics & sustainability and how the conversation still lacks a focus on nature and NbS. We are reminded of a quote from Ursula von de Leyen’s 2020 State of the Union address - “If the European Green Deal has a soul, then it is the New European Bauhaus.” (Source)
- Dimitra will present how a co-creative, arts based process that brings together expertise from anthropology, architecture and urban design to public health policy and sustainable resource management can help stakeholders bridge the gap that exists when nature is left out of the conversation.
Ecosystem Restoration & Regenerative Agriculture
- Speakers: Paul Jepson from Ecosulis & Philippe Birker from Climate Farmers
- Paul is a visionary thought leader in ecosystem restoration and nature finance and asks if we can put a value on natural capital and restoring the integrity of ecosystems large and small - be that rural, urban or elsewhere.
- Philippe is a bovine advocate in every sense & will discuss the challenges of scaling organic farming to meet supermarket demand as well as the bigger opportunity before us - putting the farmer back at the centre of our agricultural system.
Regenerative Forestry & Smart Tech
- Speakers: Ray Ó Foghlú of Hometree & Max Lerner of NYC Parks & Recreation
- At 40% of EU land cover, are our forests a commodity or an amenity? Can trees be all things to all people and the planet at the same time? Ray explores the trends, challenges and opportunities from urban pocket forests to landscape, national and regional approaches.
- Max Lerner joins us from New York to offer unique and practical insights on using smart tech such as smart sensors in urban forest settings and tree pits and bioswales to manage flood water.
Regenerative Tourism & Health & Wellbeing
- Speakers: Ruth Spencer of MEPA Trust & Anna Maria Palsdottir from SLU
- Ruth brings us insights from Antigua where there are 4 tourists for every resident and the waste per capita ratio is ten times higher than the EU. Through local community empowerment, can nature and tourism coexist and work to restore marine ecosystems and mangrove forests that bring forth an abundance of biodiversity.
- Anna Maria will offer the latest trends, challenges and opportunities that nature and the great outdoors offer for human wellbeing and mental health. Social prescribing has taken off in Scotland with GPs prescribing walks in nature and mountain rambles, but how can this be scaled or is it organically catching on?
Event Registration
Register here: https://bit.ly/3YdRzSN
