Building Bridges: Cross-Sectoral Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation, Governance, Health, and Food Security

By Barbra Bearden, Training Resources Group  • 

The Wilson Center’s Environmental Change & Security Program, in partnership with USAID’s Biodiversity Results and Integrated Development Gains Enhanced (BRIDGE) project, created a three-part virtual series to hear from researchers and practitioners on lessons learned and entry points for action in the integration of biodiversity conservation, governance, public health, and food security.

Health, Nutrition, and Ecosystem Services

Moderated by Shawn Baker, Chief Nutritionist, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with an introduction by Jeff Haeni, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment, USAID. Event summary and analysis: Improve Biodiversity Conservation, Enhance Public Health and Food Security.

Panel Speakers

  • Barbara Best, Former Senior Coastal Resource Management and Policy Specialist, USAID
  • Amy Ickowitz, Team Leader, Sustainable Landscapes & Livelihoods, Center for International Forestry Research
  • Taylor Ricketts, Professor and Director, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont

Governance, Natural Resource Management, and “Thinking and Working Politically”

Moderated by Derick Brinkerhoff, Distinguished Fellow Emeritus, RTI International, with an introduction by Kyle Rearick, Forestry and Biodiversity Advisor, USAID. Event summary and analysis: How to Think and Work Politically to Reach Biodiversity Conservation Goals.

Panel Speakers

  • Suzanne Kelly-Lyall, Founder, Wildcat Research & Advisory Services, LLC.
  • Rachel Kleinfeld, Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  • Diane Russell, President, SocioEcological Strategies, Inc.

Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for Stronger Conservation and Development Outcomes

Moderated by Tony Pryor, Senior Programming Advisor, Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning, USAID, with an introduction by Francesca Gino, Tandon Family Professor, Business Administration; Unit Head, Negotiation, Organizations & Markets, Harvard Business School. Event summary and analysis: How to Create a Successful Cross-Sectoral Collaboration.

Panel Speakers

  • Francesca Gino, Tandon Family Professor, Business Administration; Unit Head, Negotiation, Organizations and Markets, Harvard Business School
  • Josh Goldstein, Bridge Collaborative Director, The Nature Conservancy
  • James Watson, Development Diplomat in Residence, South Region, USAID

Please note: These webcasts are available on the webpages linked above at any time.

Additional Resources:

 

About BRIDGE: For the past five years, BRIDGE has supported the second goal of USAID’s Biodiversity Policy, to “integrate biodiversity as an essential component of human development.” BRIDGE collaborates with USAID missions and regional and technical bureaus to identify and promote integrated programming approaches and contribute to the evidence base for integration.

About the Environmental Change and Security Program (ECSP): ECSP explores the connections between environmental, health, and population dynamics and their links to conflict, human insecurity, and foreign policy.