For as long as nature is held in the charity bucket, it struggles to assert its needs. However, life on Earth depends indisputably on nature to flourish. So, what can we do?
In this workshop, we use the Interspecies Money (IM) concept developed by Jonathan Ledgard and his group as an entry point to discuss how such concepts can give nature economic agency to assert its needs. We will explore how AI, blockchain, digital payment and identification mechanisms, combined with ecological knowledge and data, can enable monetary microtransactions across species to support long-term coexistence.
Using learnings from the 2024-25 groundbreaking IM pilot in Rwanda, centred around the Kwitonda group of mountain gorillas, we will then explore how concepts like IM can be expanded to other species and geographical areas. The last part of the workshop discusses the intersectoral and interdisciplinary connections needed to realise and scale such frameworks with the aim seed new pilots in other regions as an outcome of this workshop
Guided by experts in banking, digital infrastructure, ecology and AI, this workshop aims to engineer intersectoral discussions on neutral ground. To counteract preconceived biases, participants' affiliations will not be revealed until the workshop ends. Participants should walk away with concrete understanding of their potential role in revolutionising nature conservation financing towards a more agile, impactful and stakeholder-driven approach.
To engage with a wider audience, we propose a podcast mini-series, e.g. in SwissRe's Risk REconsidered, discussing opportunities and risks associated with radically changing the way species protection is financially supported.

Duration 3 x 90 minutes