More than 130 delegates from over 19 countries gathered in Cambridge for a two day conference co hosted by Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, examining how biodiversity protection can strengthen livelihoods and build resilience.
The Biodiversity and Livelihoods: A Shared Investment in the Future conference brought together conservationists, development practitioners, researchers and donors from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Europe, including many who partner with JOA.
Opening the event, Deputy Carolyn Labey (pictured), Minister for International Development and Chair of the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, said: “Protecting biodiversity and reducing poverty are not competing goals. When communities are supported with nature-friendly livelihoods and access to finance, biodiversity is better protected and economic resilience is stronger.”
Across workshops, presentations and panel discussions, participants shared examples of communities protecting forests, wetlands and wildlife while improving food security, incomes and resilience to climate shocks, alongside honest discussions about where initiatives had struggled and what could be learned from them.
Brinah Razafiharimiando, Durrell’s Community Conservation Coordinator, presented on community led restoration projects in Madagascar delivered with JOA. She said: “Members of Durrell-supported savings groups are now choosing to use some of their savings to support conservation activities. Members have said they feel accountable to nature because they develop economic activities that make use of natural resources such as basket weaving and fishing.”
A dedicated half day session explored how financial access and business collaboration can reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems. Gillian Challinor, Head of Programme at Jersey Overseas Aid, said: “Biodiversity loss is often driven not by a lack of motivation to conserve nature, but by structural constraints such as limited access to capital, weak risk-management tools and exposure to climate and economic shocks.”
The conference also highlighted Conservation Livelihoods, a core JOA programme delivered with Durrell, and bursaries provided to participants from lower income countries to ensure climate vulnerable perspectives were included.
Deputy Labey added: “If we want conservation to work, we have to listen to the people living with the daily realities of environmental change. That’s why supporting participation from countries bearing the brunt of climate shocks was a core part of this conference.”
Reflecting on the event, the Minister said: “The people who rely most on nature are often the ones facing the greatest risks from environmental and climate shocks. Supporting their livelihoods is essential if we want conservation to succeed. Jersey may be small, but through Jersey Overseas Aid and our partnership with Durrell, this conference showed the incredible impact our island has, Islanders should be proud of how these two days bought people together to share ideas, learn from each other and find better ways to protect nature while supporting communities.”
The conference closed with remarks from Chris Ransom, Durrell’s Director of Field Programmes: “This is the third Durrell-JOA conservation livelihoods conference we have jointly hosted, and I think we can all agree it’s gone from strength to strength. Conservation livelihoods are about finding ways to enable nature dependent communities and nature to thrive together, and this is central to Durrell’s mission. We are proud to be bringing together these diverse organisations to share experiences, learn from each other and develop new partnerships and collaborations to further this agenda and drive meaningful change.”
