earth optimism 2021 programme
WHAT'S was ON
This was our line up of events for this year's Earth Optimism 2021
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Monday 29th March 2021: Conserving Wetlands
Earth Optimism Nairobi 2021 Event Launch
- 10.00 am – Welcome note — Event Coordinator
- 10.05 am – About the Earth Optimism — Anthony Kuria, Tropical Biology Association
- 10:10 am – Stories of Hope – Video Trailers
- 10:20 am – Talk: Be inspired about our world — Wanjira Mathai, Vice President and Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
- 10:35 am – Brief on programme of the week: What to expect during 2021 Earth Optimism Nairobi
- 10:45 am – Video premier: Ondiri Swamp – Saving Nairobi’s water source
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Stories of Hope: Premiere Videos
- 02:00 pm – Creating a safe haven at Rungiri – Friends of Rungiri Dam

Tuesday 30th March 2021: Sustainable Food Systems and Climate Change
Starting 10:00 am – Stories of Hope: Talks
- 10:00 am – Opportunities in climate change sustainability
Dr Edward Mungai, Sustainability Matters - 10:20 am – Managing our environment for better food systems
Ms Claire Nasike, Food for Life Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa - 10:40 am – Enjoying your traditional vegetables
Dr. Patrick Maundu, Ethnobotanist, National Museums of Kenya - 11:00 am – Food systems innovations and the future for Africa
Dr. Mao Amis, African Centre for Green Economy
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Starting 02:00 pm – Stories of Hope: Premiere Videos
- 2:00 pm – Mikoko Pamoja: a triple win for the environment, people and biodiversity: Mikoko Pamoja project
- 2:30 pm – Permaculture – Today’s sustainable farming: Toto Chipeta, Permaculturist

Wednesday 31st March 2021: People in Action for the Environment
Starting at 10:00 am – Stories of Hope: Talks
- 10:00 am – Using policy to inspire community conservation
Dr Musonda Mumba, UNDP Rome Centre for Sustainable Development - 10:20 am – Conserving Shoebills
Judith Mirembe, Makerere University, Uganda - 10:40 am – Environmental Policies supporting community action
Dr. Philip Osano Centre Director, Stockholm Environment Institute Africa
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Starting 11:00 am – Stories of Hope: Premiere Videos
- 11:00 am – Bringing Back Grass – the Just Diggit Creative Team
- 11:30 am – Laikipia Leopards – Wildlife Warriors WildlifeDirect
Starting 02:00 pm – Stories of Hope: Premiere Videos
- 02:00 pm – Conserving Ngare Ndare forest saves lives and livelihoods – Ngare Ndare Forest Trust
- 02:30 pm – Restoring Forests, the story of Brackenhurst – Friends of Brackenhurst

Thursday 1st April 2021: Saving Species and Habitats
Starting 10:00 am – Stories of Hope: Talks
- 10:00 am – Conserving Bats
Dr Paul Webala, Maasai Mara University - 10:20 am – The Beautiful Butterflies of Uganda
Dr Perpetra Akite, Makerere University, Uganda - 10:40 am – Saving Frogs
Dr Caleb Ofori Boateng, Herp Conservation Ghana
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Starting 02:00 pm – Stories of Hope: Premiere Videos
- 02:20 pm – Saving Cranes – Cranes Conservation Volunteers
- Lessons from the dodo: saving species and rebuilding ecosystems – Carl Jones (Cambridge Conservation Initiative)
- How many species would have gone extinct without conservation action? – Stuart Butchart (Cambridge Conservation Initiative)
- 2:30 pm – Saving Rhinos – Ol Pejeta

Friday 2nd April 2021: Research and Capacity Building
Starting 10:00 am Stories of Hope: Talks
- 10:00 am – Investing in people for conservation
Anthony Kuria, Tropical Biology Association - 10:20 am – Creating change agents
Dr Thuita Thenya, University of Nairobi
Stories of Hope: Premiere Videos
- 11:00 am – Using technology to fight Wildlife Crime –
National Museums of Kenya, Wildlife Direct and Kenya Wildlife Services
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Starting 02:00 pm Stories of Hope: Premiere Videos
- Biophilic Film Festival – using films to tell conservation stories
- The current and future of conservation storytelling in Africa – Nashipae Orumoy, African Wildlife Foundation

Saturday 3rd April 2021: Connecting with Nature
Expand your horizons: Go out, enjoy and experience nature
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Connect with other Earth Optimism events: the Cambridge event
- Butterflies as agents of change within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – Dan Danahar (Cambridge Conservation Initiative)
- Stubborn Optimism – Tom Rivett – Camac (Cambridge Conservation Initiative)
- Ocean Optimism in a Sea of Plastic – Heather Koldeway (Cambridge Conservation Initiative)

Sunday 4th April 2021: Sharing your Experiences
Feature
10:00 am – Enjoying nature with birds:
Titus Imboma, National Museums of Kenya
All day: Share your experiences on Connecting with nature through our Earth Optimism 2021 Nairobi forums
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