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John Liu
Area of Expertise: Ecosystem
Keynote Title: "Earth's Hope" - Responding To Climate Change - By Healing the Planet
Description:
In 1995, I was assigned by the World Bank to document the rehabilitation of the Loess Plateau in Northwest China. Arriving, I found a vast ruined area the size of France and millions of poor people struggling to survive. Historically this area was once a pristine mixed forest and grassland ecosystem that must have been one of the most nurturing places on earth because it is the birthplace of the Han Chinese, the largest ethnic group on the planet.
I became fascinated with learning what causes a once pristine ecosystem to collapse?
Over the years since beginning this line of inquiry I have learned a great deal and traveled to many other parts of the planet in search of answers. The inquiry quickly revealed the causes of the destruction, how the situation in the Loess Plateau parallels the development of many parts of the world where civilizations failed because their ecosystem collapsed.
With new understanding, policies and behavior on the plateau, it became clear that it is possible to rehabilitate large-scale damaged ecosystems including restoring ecosystem function that had been lost over large areas and over long periods of time; that restoring the functionality to these systems changes the development trajectory for communities and individuals making it possible to end centuries and even millennia of poverty and despair; that restoration ensures the survival of biodiversity ensuring that the genetic vitality that has reached this point from the beginning of evolutionary time is conserved; that functional vegetation cover and soil organic matter regulates the hydrological system of ground water and humidity in the atmosphere; that restoring ecosystem function ensures natural nutrient cycling increasing fertility and productivity; and that this includes carbon sequestration in the biomass and soil organic matter, the natural and most effective response to human induced climate change.
For some time now I have been studying whether lessons learned in the Loess Plateau could be applied elsewhere. Research in Africa and elsewhere suggests that if everyone understood this and we collectively acted on this knowledge we could ensure survival and sustainability for future generations by healing the planet.
This is what I want to share.
Biography:
John D, Liu is an American who has lived in China for more than 25 years. Initially helping to open the CBS News bureau in Beijing at the time of normalization of relations between the U.S. and China, Mr. Liu has concentrated on ecological film making since the mid-1990s. He has written, produced and directed films on Grasslands, Deserts, Wetlands, Oceans, Rivers, Urban Development, Atmosphere, Forests, Endangered Animals, Poverty Reduction, primarily for EARTH REPORT and LIFE series on the BBC World. In 2003, Mr. Liu wrote, produced and directed "Jane Goodall - China Diary" for National Geographic.
Currently a Research PhD candidate in the School of Human and Environmental Affairs at the University of Reading, Mr. Liu consults with the World Bank & the United Nations Environment Programme. Mr. Liu has been awarded fellowships from the University of the West of England, The Rothamsted Research Institute and the Asia Society.
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| klandmiles | Backchannel Chat | 0 | Apr 13 2009, 8:00 AM EDT by klandmiles | ||
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Thread started: Apr 13 2009, 8:00 AM EDT
Watch
If you would like to check out the backchannel chat of this keynote speaker, please see the attachment at the bottom of this page.
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| Anonymous | Ethiopia Links from John Liu | 0 | Mar 26 2009, 6:37 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||
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Backchannel Chat from John Liu's keynote.doc (Word Document - 26k)
posted by klandmiles Apr 13 2009, 7:59 AM EDT
Backchannel Chat from John Liu's Keynote
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Canadell_etal.2009.Anthropogenic_CO2_emissions_in_Africa.Biogeosciences.lv.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 430k)
posted by rvolz Mar 26 2009, 6:45 PM EDT
Anthropagenic article
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Hierarchy of Ecosystem Function3.doc (Word Document - 56k)
posted by edzel23 Mar 18 2009, 8:39 PM EDT
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JPMorgan.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 1,076k)
posted by edzel23 Mar 18 2009, 8:38 PM EDT
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Hands-On China 2008 - John Liu[2].pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 1,263k)
posted by edzel23 Mar 18 2009, 8:35 PM EDT
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