Restorative practices for environmental, social and economic gains

About the speaker: 

Heidi Alleway is the Senior Aquaculture Scientist for TNC’s global aquaculture strategy, where she leads a science portfolio focused on advancing the organizations strategy on restorative aquaculture and smart siting and contributes to broader efforts to advance regenerative food systems and seafood initiatives. Her research spans aquaculture, fisheries and fisheries habitat, biosecurity and historical ecology, with much of her work having been conducted in an applied setting, working with and for government, industry and communities. This has included spatial planning and development of aquaculture zoning as well as supporting policy, regulation, and environmental monitoring and research. She has been a recipient of the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research in 2020 and a South Australia Young Tall Poppy and SA Great Young South Australian of the Year.

Organisation:

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, we impact conservation in 81 countries and territories: 40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners.

Presentation:

With the right approach aquaculture can actively support the recovery of degraded ecosystems through restorative and regenerative practices. The positive environmental outcomes aquaculture can generate occur alongside important social and economic outcomes, becoming important co-benefits of an industry that hold enormous potential for sustainable and equitable livelihood. This presentation explores the practices, products and supporting policies that will enable seaweed aquaculture to couple economic and social outcomes with ecosystem services to support mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss.