Nature as Our Ally: Conservancy CEO at Davos

They could see their breath in the cold of Davos, Switzerland, where leaders were gathered recently for the World Economic Forum, but the topic of discussion was global warming, climate-related disasters and the need to invest in “natural capital.”

In case you missed it, click here to watch The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore interview Mark Tercek, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy, about investing in “natural infrastructure,” like dunes and wetlands to improve defenses against coastal storms and floods – along with more traditional gray infrastructure – in places such as New York.

Tercek, who recently served on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NYS 2100 Commission, told Cantore that the tragic loss of life and damages from Hurricane Sandy are “a wake-up call,” that along with reducing carbon pollution, we need to make investments now in nature as our ally.

Nature, as Tercek points out, provides many benefits and services for people. He also mentions the experience of China, which has embarked on major reforestation efforts, after realizing the value of standing forest can be three times the value of the timber, in protecting people against flooding and protecting water supplies.

Lisa Hayden is a blogger for The Nature Conservancy

Photo © Erika Nortemann (Mark Tercek is President & CEO of The Nature Conservancy).