Tuesday February 15 2011 / Citizenship
Choose or Lose: Biodiversity for sale?
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It's been estimated that about 8 to 10 billion US dollars are annually spent on biodiversity conservation worldwide. This is hardly enough! Biodiversity conservation is being confronted with a financial gap of billions, so there is need for more money. But how does one get more money? Is this a governmental task or do businesses play a role as well?
The fourth debate in the series Choose or lose discusses the role the business sector plays when it comes to financing the conservation of biodiversity. Do we have to put a price-tag on biodiversity to be able to preserve it? And is it possible to treat biodiversity conservation as a consumer product, place it in the free market to seek the most cost efficient protection.
During the debate the partnerships between the conservation organizations and the industry -and their pro's and con's- will be held to light. Additionally, the current discussion in the Netherlands, the result of proposed cuts on the governments budget for nature is examined. Is it up to the industry to gap the newly formed hole? Or should we look for a solution in adjusting the ambitions according to the governmental budget available.
Pro or against industry finance: the opinions are often diametrically opposed. It seems impossible to compromise. But we cannot afford fundamentalist discussions, deadlocks are immanent and biodiversity is disappearing. The Taskforce needs to take a stand and wants to initiate useful proposals.
What do you think? Come and discuss with the Taskforce Biodiversity and Natural Resources and others. This is the last debate in the series organized by Taskforce, Felix Meritis and Trouw. With (amongst others) Maarten Kappelle (WWF Netherlands), Teo Wams (director Natuurbeheer Natuurmonumenten) and Walter Kooy (Groenfonds).
For more information on the vision, ideas, projects and members of the Task Force visist the Task Force Biodiversity website. On the website you can let us know in which corner you stand by voting on the poll: ‘Biodiversity is a product which businesses should be able to buy.' You can find the poll at the bottom of the homepage.
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