It is hard to escape the reality that our climate is rapidly changing—in the natural world, and otherwise. Trends that used to be predictable are erratic. Temporary shifts, such as weather, that allowed us to adapt to momentary changes and return once again to equilibrium are no longer able to prepare us for the broader, more long-lasting changes to come. There have been many innovations in ocean conservation over the past several decades, but in a rapidly changing climate, these now-conventional methods and approaches will not be enough to keep up with the accelerated pace of change. This presentation will discuss four major program areas—place-based conservation, fisheries and aquaculture, ocean climate, and innovation—as part of Conservation International (CI)’s effort to connect local action with global impact for ocean conservation, with the Pacific Ocean as a significant focal area.

Video of Aulani Wilhelm's presentation on 02/28/19 at East-West Center:

Aulani Wilhelm has more than 20 years of experience in natural resource management, primarily in ocean conservation. As CI’s Senior Vice President for Oceans, she leads a team that connects local action with global impact to conserve the ocean biodiversity and ecosystems that people need. She led the designation of what has become the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and World Heritage site, one of the largest protected areas on Earth and first of its kind to honor indigenous relationships with the sea. Previously, she served as Director of Ocean Initiatives for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and was a Social Innovation Fellow at Stanford University, focusing on island-scaled social enterprise. An advocate for the importance of global ocean heritage, she founded Big Ocean, a network of the worldʻs largest protected and managed marine areas.

It is hard to escape the reality that our climate is rapidly changing—in the natural world, and otherwise. Trends that used to be predictable are erratic. Temporary shifts, such as weather, that allowed us to adapt to momentary changes and return once again to equilibrium are no longer able to prepare us for the broader, more long-lasting changes to come. There have been many innovations in ocean conservation over the past several decades, but in a rapidly changing climate, these now-conventional methods and approaches will not be enough to keep up with the accelerated pace of change. This presentation will discuss four major program areas—place-based conservation, fisheries and aquaculture, ocean climate, and innovation—as part of Conservation International (CI)’s effort to connect local action with global impact for ocean conservation, with the Pacific Ocean as a significant focal area.

Video of Aulani Wilhelm's presentation on 02/28/19 at East-West Center:

Aulani Wilhelm has more than 20 years of experience in natural resource management, primarily in ocean conservation. As CI’s Senior Vice President for Oceans, she leads a team that connects local action with global impact to conserve the ocean biodiversity and ecosystems that people need. She led the designation of what has become the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and World Heritage site, one of the largest protected areas on Earth and first of its kind to honor indigenous relationships with the sea. Previously, she served as Director of Ocean Initiatives for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and was a Social Innovation Fellow at Stanford University, focusing on island-scaled social enterprise. An advocate for the importance of global ocean heritage, she founded Big Ocean, a network of the worldʻs largest protected and managed marine areas.