The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

What is the future of nature? By 2050, the Earth’s population is expected to exceed 9 billion. Our climate is changing, and we all will have a part to play in ensuring that nature can continue to meet the needs of the people and species what rely on it.

Join this important community conversation at the Future of Nature lecture series that The Nature Conservancy will co-sponsor with WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station, this spring. Each night will feature national and global thought leaders discussing the most critical conservation challenges of our time, as well as a pre-event reception with refreshments, good conversation, activities, and information from community groups that are working on these important issues.

“I’m excited to announce our 2013 speaker series, The Future of Nature,” said Wayne Klockner, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts. “I’m looking forward to intelligent discussions from leaders with broad perspectives on responses to the most pressing environmental issues of our time.”

The series is divided into three evenings of thought and discussion about urgent natural resource concerns: food, energy, and water. Global leaders in each field will participate in a moderated panel discussion, followed by questions from the audience.

“As the population increases and the climate changes, a rising demand will place additional pressure on the lands and water we depend upon,” Klockner adds, “and it’s time to start thinking about creative and collaborative solutions to these challenges.”

You can also join the conversation by tweeting your hopes and concerns, using the hashtag #futureofnature. What does the future of nature look like? Electric cars? Locally grown food? More superstorms? Follow what your neighbors have to say at @Nature_NE.

Event Series Details
Tickets are $25 per event or $60 for a series and can be purchased online at http://www.nature.org/mass/futureofnature. Each evening will include a pre-event reception with Nature Conservancy staff and event speakers, hors d’oeuvres, and additional information on the issues from community groups and local business that are working to provide solutions.

The Future of Food

Monday, April 22, 5:30 to 9:30 pm
Artists for Humanity EpiCenter, 100 West 2nd Street, South Boston, MA.

• Michael Leviton, chef, Lumière and Area Four, Chefs Collaborative
• Oran Hesterman, founder, Fair Food Network
• Paul Greenberg, author of “Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food
• David Cleary, strategy director, agriculture, The Nature Conservancy
• Moderator: Sacha Pfeiffer, host, All Things Considered, WBUR

See more about our speakers for The Future of Food.

 The Future of Energy

Monday, May 13, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
BSA Space, Atlantic Wharf, 290 Congress Street, Suite 200, Boston, MA.

• Dan Kammen (professor and director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, UC Berkeley)
• Jigar Shah, partner, Inerjys clean-energy investment firm
• Joe Fargione, lead scientist, North America Region, The Nature Conservancy
• Moderator: Anthony Brooks, co-host, Radio Boston, WBUR

See more about our speakers for The Future of Energy.

The Future of Water

Monday, June 10, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Virginia Wimberly Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.

• Sandra Postel, director, The Global Water Policy Project
• Steven Solomon, author of Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power and Civilization
• Brian Richter, co-leader, Global Freshwater Team, The Nature Conservancy
• Moderator: Meghna Chakrabarti, co-host, Radio Boston, WBUR

See more about our speakers for The Future of Water.

NOTE: Please contact The Nature Conservancy regarding speaker media availability prior to each event.