Rolex-Supported Webinar Kicks Off United Nations’ Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development / Event is Free & Open to the Public
TREE Foundation executive director Dr. Margaret “CanopyMeg” Lowman will be a panelist in “Blue Hope” — a global Dec. 17 online roundtable discussion about ocean conservation and the United Nations’ Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development initiative, which begins in 2021. The free Zoom event is open to the public and is presented by Mission Blue and the Sylvia Earle Alliance with the support of the Rolex company. The hour-long program takes place Thursday, Dec. 17, beginning at 10 a.m., Pacific Time. Advance registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/y5zmjku6.
The webinar will take a high-level look at the coming decade and discuss opportunities and impediments to making meaningful strides in protecting the oceans and lands of planet Earth. Topics will cover climate change, energy needs, species extinction, resource extraction, and more; time for a live Q&A with the audience will be included. In addition to Dr. Lowman, panelists include famed oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, founder of Mission Blue; Sean Russell founder and director of Youth Ocean Conservation Summit — which is presented annually by Mote Marine Laboratory; and Enzo DeFerrari-Wilson, founder of Ocean Needs Everyone.
“The next ten years are crucial for the health and viability of our planet Earth,” said Dr. Lowman. “The United Nations has dedicated the decade of 2021 through 2030 to help us lay the groundwork for the next 10,000 years. I’m honored to join Dr. Earle and the other supporters of our blue depths and green heights.”
Dr. Lowman and Dr. Earle have similar missions: Mission Blue is an international organization focused on establishing a worldwide network of marine protected areas called “Hope Spots.” Dr. Lowman is the founder of Mission Green, whose mission is to stop global deforestation, protect the planet’s biodiversity, and provide indigenous communities with sustainable economic opportunities. This will be accomplished by establishing 10 canopy walkways in the 10 highest biodiversity “Hot Spots” globally over the next 10 years. The highly successful Myakka River State Park canopy skywalk in south Florida serves as the model for Mission Green.
“Our missions are synergistic,” said Dr. Lowman. “Dr. Earle wants to save the oceans and I want to save the forests. Neither can truly survive without the other, and our planet cannot survive without both.”
Register and learn details for the Dec. 17 roundtable at https://tinyurl.com/y5zmjku6; the event is presented by Mission Blue and the Sylvia Earle Alliance and is provided with support from the Rolex company. Learn more about the TREE Foundation and the Mission Green initiative at TreeFoundation.org.