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12th Annual BIOECON Conference

From the Wealth of Nations to the Wealth of Nature:
Rethinking Economic Growth

Hosted by Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
in association with Conservation International (CI) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)

Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli - Venice, Italy
September 27-28, 2010

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The Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, in association with Conservation International, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the United Nations Environment Programme, announces the Twelfth International BIOECON Conference "From the Wealth of Nations to the Wealth of Nature: Rethinking Economic Growth". The Conference will be held at the Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli, Venice, Italy, on September 27th-28th, 2010.

The Conference targets researchers, environmental professionals, international organizations and policy-makers who are interested in working towards a better, more effective stewardship of natural capital.

The central theme will focus on the identification of the most effective and efficient instruments for biodiversity conservation, such as auctions of biodiversity conservation contracts, payment-for-services contracts, taxes, tradable permits, voluntary mechanisms and straightforward command and control measures. Special attention will be given to the role of public bodies/NGOs in the creation of innovative mechanisms for the delivery of ecosystem benefits and in promoting the participation of a wider range of economic agents (business/families/local communities) in biodiversity conservation. We will also focus on policy reforms in specific sectors, including agriculture, urban planning and green buildings, fisheries, forests, industry, renewable energy, waste management and water, tourism and transport, focusing on the roles of each in green economic development.

In addition, particular attention will paid to analyses of the impacts and dependencies of different businesses on biodiversity and ecosystems, and the potential contributions of corporations to a more resource-efficient economy. The role of biodiversity as an employment generator will also be addressed. Finally, we will take a close look the beneficiaries of biodiversity and ecosystem services, exploring the potential use of these resources for poverty alleviation, and with examples of successful policies to this end.

We invite submission of papers particularly addressing the following themes: 1) assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity conservation instruments, taking into account spatial considerations and/or governance settings; 2) the development of new, incentive-based instruments to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services; 3) the determination of ecosystem services opportunities for business and management, with particular emphasis on the potential for minimizing corporate risk with respect to these services; 4) the potential contribution of businesses to the implementation of more ecosystem services-based economic development; 5) application of ecosystem services assessment and valuation methodologies in the public, private and non-governmental settings; 6) innovative, participatory, economic valuation methods of biodiversity and their social implications; 7) assessment and valuation of marine and coastal ecosystems and their contribution to human livelihoods; 8) the role of property rights in the provision of ecosystem services and employment opportunities for local communities; 9) the role of local community members in the creation and enforcement of norms and regulations that lead to successful and sustainable economic governance models; 10) the role of forestry in poverty alleviation and in supporting human livelihoods in developing countries; and 11) macroeconomic indicators/national accounting systems adjusted to include the values of provision, flows and benefits of ecosystem services, and ultimately human well-being (i.e. Genuine Progress Indicator, Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare, GDP of the poor, etc.).

We are particularly interested in papers documenting practical applications, experiences and case studies in the above themes. Theoretical contributions are, of course, welcome, but priority will be given to more applied work: in particular, papers that emerge from partnerships between civil society and research organizations, with a view to the identification and analysis of locally owned and locally developed solutions that can prevent and/or resolve tensions arising from existing and new methods of natural resource use. Similarly, papers that present policies described above that have been successfully implemented in national or sub-national contexts and that show results are encouraged. We also welcome empirical research in the emerging fields of economic valuation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage benefits, and the role of intercultural dialogue in the promotion of regional sustainable development.

The Conference will cover two days. Leading international environmental economists will present their latest research in two plenary sessions:

Prof. Geoffrey Heal, Columbia Business School, USA

Dr. Joshua Bishop, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Switzerland

Two specially-focused round table panel discussions are also scheduled:

1. Bringing science to action: insights from conservation practitioners, chaired by Conservation International
2. Innovative participatory methods on valuation: a social take on biodiversity values, chaired by the United Nations Environmental Programme.

The Conference will open with an evening reception at the Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli on September 26th. Conference sessions will commence on the morning of September 27th and end on the afternoon of September 28th. A Conference dinner will be organised on the evening of September 27th. Lunches and refreshments will also be provided.

Paper submissions
Papers submitted for presentation will be evaluated by the Conference Programme Committee. Electronic copies (in WORD or PDF format) should be sent to Silvia Bertolin (silvia.bertolin@feem.it) no later than May 28, 2010. Abstracts will not be considered for evaluation. Acceptance of papers will be provided via email in late June 2010.

Scholarships
The Conference Programme Committee will provide 10 grants to researchers coming from developing countries to participate in the conference. Grants will include accommodation, round-trip airfare, and the full-conference registration fee. These grants are available through the generosity of the Conference Partners.

To be considered for a Conference scholarship, applicants must submit a paper and attach a letter from their institution or supervisor that establishes financial need, and send it to Silvia Bertolin (silvia.bertolin@feem.it) by May 28, 2010. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance prior to the Conference.

Registration
The registration fee for conference auditors is €198. This fee includes the cocktail reception, the social dinner, four coffee breaks and two lunches. The registration fee for those presenting papers is €130, with the exception of BIOECON Partners. Travel and accommodation expenses remain the responsibility of all the participants.

Conference updates will be posted on this page of the BIOECON web-site.

If you need more information, please contact Ms. Ughetta Molin Fop, e-mail ughetta.molin@feem.it, fax +39.041.2711461.

Announcement and Call for papers

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