Enabling Sustainable Environmental Decision Making Through the NASA and Conservation International Partnership

NASA's Earth Science Division and Conservation International (CI) have engaged in a joint partnership to leverage their respective expertise toward mutually beneficial activities that advance societal and environmental benefits. CI is a global leader in conservation and nature based development with well-established partnerships with national governments, regional decision makers, and on-the-ground stakeholders. C I's efforts are rooted strongly in science that supports the development of sustainable societies. NASA brings unparalleled tools and expertise in gathering long term, standardized, global measurements of environmental change that advance science and benefit society.

This session will highlight the lessons learned from this partnership, outlining the benefits and challenges of working in a uniquely-structured relationship. We will provide an overview and history of two major activities that have resulted from the partnership to support nature-based sustainable development and decision making in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. These examples will underscore the untapped possibilities and the need for establishing synergistic relationships between public and private partners to respond to our collective global efforts towards sustainability.