Short CV

Zuzana Münzbergová is head of the Population Ecology Department at the Botanical Institute, Czech Academy of Science and professor at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague. Her research is focused on population biology and genetics of rare and endangered plant species, species dynamics at landscape scale, species ability to adapt to changing climatic conditions and interactions of plants with soil and soil biota. Most of her research is centredaround species in grasslands, from dry grasslands to alpine grasslands.

Plenary talk

In her talk she will explore plant species abilities to adapt to changing environmental conditions, which may be both beneficial e.g. in case of helping plants to deal with changing climate as well as detrimental e.g. in species adaptations to cultivation in ex-situ collections. She will also explore whether cultivation of plants in private gardens, a novel approach to ex-situ species conservation, may mitigate the problems observed in other ex-situ collections.

Friday 26 (9:00)

Short CV

Eszter holds an MSc in economics and a PhD in environmental sciences. She is working at ESSRG - a small non-profit company cultivating cross-boundary research in Hungary - as senior researcher. Between 2008-2019 she taught environmental conflict management, ecological economics and decision techniques at different Hungarian universities. Her research topics range from human-nature interactions to ecosystem service valuation and policy analysis. She loves working with people who havediverse backgrounds and on-the-ground experience, and over the years she has developed skills in social scientific, participatory and deliberative techniques which help her facilitate knowledge co-creation processes. She has been engaged in the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) since 2014, first as a member of the Values Expert Group, later as a Lead Author of the Global Assessment, and currently as a CoordinatingLead Author of the Values Assessment.

Plenary talk

Diverse values and plural valuation: options and opportunities to contribute to sustainability transformations.

The IPBES Global Assessment (GA) (IPBES, 2019) called for transformative actions to halt the loss of biodiversity which, at its current unprecedented pace, is threatening with the disruption of the social-ecological systems we are living in. The GA also highlighted that the indirect drivers of change (such as population growth, unsustainable production and consumption patterns, technology development or governance deficiencies and conflicts) are underpinned by the worldviews andvalues society holds. The scientific interest in values and valuation and its relationship to governance and policymaking is growing rapidly, leading to the recognition that acknowledging diverse values in decision-making is the prerequisite to effectively support and manage system-wide transformations towards a more sustainable future, but at the same time needs substantial changes in our existing governance systems (Visseren-Hamakers et al. 2021). The recent IPBES Assessment onValues and Valuation, getting discussed at the IPBES Plenary 9 in July 2022, digs deep into the theory and practice of the valuation of nature and its contributions to people, and provides guidance to the scientific community, as well as to decision-makers in different sectors and scales, on how to operationalize the values of nature in decision-making. This plenary presentation will share some of the key insights of the Values Assessment, especially how the values of nature can beconceptualized, how it is possible to assess the diversity of values, and what options and opportunities are available for decision-makers to act upon the diverse values of nature.

Wednesday 24 (9:00)

Short CV

Luigi Boitani is Honorary (Emeritus) Professor of Conservation Biology and Animal Ecology at the University of Rome, Dept. of Biology and Biotechnologies. He has been Chair of the Department of Animal and Human Biology for 10 years (2000-10) and President of the Society for Conservation Biology (2009-11).

His main scientific interests are on a) the social ecology of carnivores, particularly wolves and bears on which he has been working since 1972; b) patterns and models of species distributions based on GIS tools; and c) planning and conservation of protected areas, with emphasis on Africa and Europe where he has contributed to the management plans of more than 30 national parks. He has lectured widely in North America and Europe.

He has been member of the IUCN’s SSC Steering Committee since 1994. He is the Chair of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe, a SSC Specialist Group; chair of the IUCN Red List Committee; CEO of the Fondation Segré in Geneva; founder and president of the Institute of Applied Ecology in Rome. He received the WWF Conservation Award and the Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit in 2012. He is author of more than 400 scientific papers and 10 books.

Plenary talk

The large carnivores of Europe: the challenges of conservation and coexistence.

The large carnivores of Europe are, with few local exceptions, increasing in number and expanding in ranges. The trend is likely to continue as increasingly large parts of Europe are being abandoned in mountains and marginal agricultural areas. Conservationists must face a shift in focus, from battling to save endangered species to managing a conservation success with extensive economic, social and ecological implications.

Tuesday 23 (9:30)

Short CV

Anders Wijkman is an opinionmaker and author. Anders is chairman of the Governing Board of Climate-KIC – the largest public-private partnership on innovation for low-carbon solutions in the EU. He is a member of the IRP (International Resource Panel) - a UN appointed expert body: “to build and share the knowledge needed to improve the use of our resources worldwide”. He is, as well, chair of Circular Sweden, a platform for producers, retailers and recycling companies to advance the Circular Economy.

Anders is honorary president of the Club of Rome, member of the Int´l Advisory Board of SITRA (Finnish Innovation Fund). He is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Royal Swedish Academy on Forestry and Agricultural Sciences, the World Academy of Art and Science and the World Future Council.

During his career Anders has served as a Member of the European Parliament and the Swedish Parliament, as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Policy Director of UNDP, as Director General of SAREC - the Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries), as Secretary General of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and as Secretary General of the Swedish Red Cross.

Anders is honorary doctor at Linköping University (2011).

In 1984 Anders was the author of “NATURAL DISASTERS – Acts of God or Acts of Man?” (Earthscan) with co-author Lloyd Timberlake.

In 2005 Anders was the author of ”The Tsunami – the unnecessary disaster” (Ekerlids)

In 2012 Anders was the author of ”Bankrupting Nature” – with co-author Professor Johan Rockström (Routledge).

In 2016 Anders was the author – together with senior economist Kristian Skånberg – of ”The Circular Economy and Benefits for Society” with Kristian Skånberg.

In 2017 Anders was the author – together with Professor Ernst von Weizsaecker – of ”Come On - Capitalism, Short-termism, Population and the Destruction of the Planet” (Springer).

In 2018 Anders was the author – together with Hunter Lovins, Stewart Wallis and John Fullerton – of ”A Finer Future is Possible” (New Society Publishers)

Plenary talk

Earth4All

Presentation of a report that will be launched in the summer of 2022, partly as a 50-year follow-up to the Limits to Growth. ”Earh4All" is an international initiative, supported by the Club of Rome, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Studies, Stockholm Resilience Center and the Norwegian Business School. The purpose is to accelerate the systems-changes we need for an equitable future on a finite planet. The dominant economic model of today is destabilising societies - socially andecologically. It is time for change.

Combining the best available science with new economic thinking, Earth4All is designed to explore and promote five transformations that can create prosperity for all within the planetary boundaries. The five turnarounds are focused on poverty, inequality, energy, food systems and empowerment of women.

A better future is possible, but we don’t have much time. The next ten years must see the fastest economic transformation in history!

Thursday 25 (9:00)