Biodiversity Public Lecture: Dr. Justina Ray "What’s Left to What’s Needed: Reframing Biodiversity in Decision-Making"

What’s Left to What’s Needed: Reframing Biodiversity in Decision-Making

When biodiversity protection starts from “what we can spare” rather than “what nature needs,” the outcome is predictable: ecosystems degrade and species decline. Default approaches in planning, policy, and climate action marginalize biodiversity from the beginning, locking in compromises before the conversation has truly begun. This is despite the central role of nature in human wellbeing, economic stability, and in addressing climate change. This talk will explore why reframing these early stages is essential to achieving lasting conservation outcomes, and how science and civil society can help drive the shift toward embedding biodiversity needs at the very start of decision-making.

Dr. Justina Ray has been President and Senior Scientist of Wildlife Conservation Society Canada since its incorporation in 2004 and has led research and policy efforts focused on biodiversity conservation in northern boreal landscapes. She has served on numerous government advisory panels on species at risk and land use planning, serves on the scientific advisory board of the Liber Ero Post-doctoral Fellowship program and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto and Trent University.

Read Integrating environmental considerations is key to Carney’s seven priorities.

The event will be held in the Jack Poole Hall at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. Please click here for the address.

Space is limited and guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Parking: there is limited metered street parking available along University Blvd and Wesbrook Mall. We suggest using one of the parkades below. View the university parkade and parking lot map.

• Health Science Parkade
  2250 Health Sciences Mall V6T 1Z3,
  Directions
• North Parkade
  6115 Student Union Boulevard V6T 1Z1
  Directions