“We understand the huge risk that the world faces (from climate change). We know that conservation is a big part of the solution. We need the power of...the WCC...so that our efforts add up.”

—Trevor Sandwith, director of policy for Protected Areas

Lynne Hale, Director, Global Marine Conservation Team

"The WCC is about us connecting the many different conservation partners and sharing our best hopes and needs for achieving conservation. Marine conservation is on the agenda in a big way for the first time, and I hope the result is action – not just discussion. We need to build nature-based adaptation into the mainstream conservation agenda – and no place is it more important than the coasts."

Trevor Sandwith, Director of Policy for Protected Areas

"I'd like to see the WCC make it possible for powerful global leadership to emerge to address climate change and its dire consequences for biodiversity and human development. We understand the huge risk that the world faces. We know that conservation is a big part of the solution. Now we need the power of a global forum like the WCC to bring governments and partners together so that our efforts add up."

Nicole Silk, Co-Lead, Global Freshwater Team

"This is a great opportunity to expand the quest for solutions that provide water for people and nature.  In a sense, it's an opportunity to achieve broader international recognition for the Conservancy's freshwater work and a larger stake in international dialogue circles. Building from 50 years of investment in freshwater conservation, we are ready to work together towards a sustainable future that will benefit us all."

Susi Olmstead, Policy Advisor, Global Island Partnership

"WCC is a really good opportunity to strengthen collaboration between island countries, countries with islands and other partners on future strategies for nature-based adaptation to climate change. The Congress is an opportunity for us to sit down with a lot of people we are already working with and to leave with more concrete steps and ideas."

Duncan Marsh, Director, International Climate Change Policy

"I’d like to see efforts to take advantage of the synergies between combating climate change, conserving biodiversity and fostering sustainable livelihoods. Our climate change team will be sharing lessons learned from our work to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and seeking out new perspectives that will help create effective, efficient and equitable forest carbon programs."

Jeff Parrish, Director, Global Mediterranean Habitat Conservation

"We want to see an increased concern amongst the world’s conservation practitioners regarding the crisis the Mediterranean habitats face: Only one acre of habitat is protected for every 8 converted acres – a ratio four times as grim as that of tropical rainforests. This rampant conversion in many regions is reaching the brink of unsustainability, threatening plant and animal life, as well as industries and people."