Conservation Optimism is a global community dedicated to inspiring and empowering people around the world to make a difference for nature. With the Conservation Optimism Summit around the corner, this article looks forward to the Summit, explores why we need Conservation Optimism and highlights some sources of hope and inspiration provided by our partners.
One of the core principles behind the work we do at Synchronicity Earth is that conservation works, we just need more of it. It is the inspirational people we work with on a daily basis and their success stories which drive us and our supporters to continue, even when the threats facing our natural world can seem insurmountable.
The severity of these threats is hard to ignore. Devastating photos of fires burning across the Amazon spread over international news and social media last week, and a second wave of articles emerging this week with the news that there are more fires burning in central Africa than in Latin America.
It is vital to understand and acknowledge the threats. Shocking images such as those of the Amazon burning might just trigger people to act with the urgency that is required. But these are short-term responses, and in addition to the shocking images, we need to supply stories that will keep people committed to supporting conservation in the long term and show them that conservation works.
Conservation Optimism
This is where Conservation Optimism comes in. Conservation Optimism is a movement to celebrate conservation success stories: the little wins that bring us hope, the tidal changes that keep us going, and the inspirational people who show their dedication to the natural world from all corners of the globe.
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© Anna Heath
At Synchronicity Earth, we hear stories from our partners every week which give us grounds for optimism and tell us that conservation done well has a huge positive impact for people and planet. We are very excited to be bringing two of these partners to the Conservation Optimism Summit in Oxford next week: Frédéric Le Manach from BLOOM Association and Valentin Omasombo Wotoko from Mbou Mon Tour.
Small but Mighty
Frédéric and Valentin will be participating in a panel entitled ‘Small but Mighty’ which will discuss how small organisations can create a big conservation impact. BLOOM Association is a French conservation organisation which, along with others, has been instrumental in achieving significant legislative changes to benefit the ocean, including a ban on deep-sea trawling and