SciCafe: Protecting Our Crowded Planet

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

A herd of water buffalo, walking in grass, with evening sunlight filtering through trees in the background. Courtesy of R. Rui/Unsplash
Protected lands are the vital strongholds of Earth's biodiversity and ecological integrity, serving as sanctuaries where nature thrives undisturbed.  

These areas play a crucial role in preserving ecosystems, safeguarding critical species, and sustaining local livelihoods which promote economic stability. The worldwide 30 by 30 initiative is an ambitious and visionary goal to protect 30 percent of the planet’s lands and waters by 2030, but what does it mean in reality? 

Join Nyeema C. Harris, Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation at the Yale School of the Environment, for an in-depth discussion about the realities of sharing our planet with nature and protecting the ecosystems we rely so heavily upon.  

This event is presented in collaboration with the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation

ASL interpretation will be provided for this program.

Resources for SciCafe’s Frequent Geeks  

Nyeema Harris is the Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation at the Yale School of the Environment. The principal goal of her research is to promote coexistence between wildlife, namely carnivores and people. With a global footprint of projects, she investigates antagonistic interactions in cities to protected areas.  

Quick Pick: Yale-led study reveals habitat loss threats for 91 African carnivores 

Big Bite: A Global Deal For Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets 

Deep Dive: Dynamics in the global protected-area estate since 2004

Environmental scientist Nyeema Harris, standing on a barren plateau in Amboseli National Park, in Kenya.
Nyeema Harris in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.