International Conference on Biodiversity and Ecosystems - Matera

Matera Quantifying the economic value of nature is an essential prerequisite to understanding the potential of a community and territory and guaranteeing the possibility of sustainable development. Through an approach based on so-called "ecosystem services", the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment scheme, provides a method that is able to improve our understanding of the value of natural resources and their relation to the wellbeing of communities.

To mark the International Year of Biodiversity, on 24 September 2010, Matera hosted the International Conference "biodiversity and ecosystems", organised by the University of Basilicata and the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei and promoted by Eni, under the aegis of the Basilicata Regional Government.

To request the speeches full texts please write to:di_donato_sostenibilita@eni.com

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The programme
The speeches
Photogallery

World-renowned experts analysed the "ecosystemic approach" as a key to understand the relationship between human beings and environment and discussed the ways of promoting greater integration between ideas about conservation, biodiversity and the equitable use of resources. A roundtable discussion also examined the results of applied research and existing real case studies.

The keynote address by Geoffrey Heal, Professor in "Public Policy and Business Responsibility" at Columbia Business School - an international centre of excellence in the academic field, opened the conference. The main theme of the keynote address and other lectures organised during the two sessions is the idea that only by combining scientific analysis, a knowledge of local factors and the economic valorisation of ecosystem services will it be possible to promote sustainable development and protect biodiversity.

The conference is part of a series on biodiversity and ecosystems, first launched in 2003 in Basilicata, which led to a number of projects in the Val d'Agri and the organization of meetings with local representatives, including the "Biodiversity in Val d'Agri" Conference which was held in Potenza in 2009 (in cooperation with FEEM and University of Basilicata).

Downloadable documents

The programme
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Speaker	Tittle	Video	Presentation
Geoffrey Heal Professor of Public Policy and Business Responsibility	Keynote Address The economic value of ecosystems	G. Heal
Fiorenza Micheli Professor of Ecology, Stanford University, Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation,member of the "California Academy of Science", President of the Western Society of Naturalists	The human impact on nature: a look at marine ecosystems	F. Micheli
Peter Carter Director of the Environment and Social Office, European Investment Bank	The economic evaluation of ecosystem services by banks: the experience of the European Investment Bank	P. Carter
Claire Blenkinsop Director of Corporate Relations, Centre for Environmental Leadership in Business, Conservation International	The study and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems: the advantages of a positive relationship between business and NGOs	C. Blenkinsop
Joshua Bishop Chief Economist, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Business and Enterprise Coordinator for the study "The Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity" (TEEB)	Ecosystem services: the business perspective	J. Bishop
James Griffiths Director of Ecosystems,Water and Forestry, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)	A business case study of issues relating to biodiversity and ecosystem services	J. Griffiths
Gerard Bos Biodiversity Relationship Manager, Holcim	Private enterprise and the evaluation of ecosystems: the Holcim case	G. Bos
Paola M. Pedroni Eni E&P division and Chairperson IPIECA - OGP BiodiversityWorking Group	Integrating themanagement of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Oil & Gas business	P. Pedroni