Welcome & Opening Ceremony, Lighting of the lamp

09:30 - 10:00 A.M.

Keynote address by Mr. Jonathan Ledgard

10:00 - 10:45 A.M.

Coffee Break

10:45 - 11:00 A.M.

Government Policy Panel

11:00 - 11:45 A.M.

International Panel Discussion (Country Ambassadors)

11:45 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Lunch

12:30 - 01:15 P.M.

Conservation & Technology Panel

01:30 - 02:30 P.M.

Atria University presentation on the Technology Stack and Pilot

02:30 - 02:50 P.M.

Conservation & Technology Panel

01:30 - 02:30 P.M.

Atria University presentation on the Technology Stack and Pilot

02:30 - 02:50 P.M.

Finance and Ethics Panel

02:50 - 03:30 P.M.

Coffee Break

03:30 - 04:00 P.M.

The Role of AI: Talk by Martin Wikelski (Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour)

04:00 - 04:30 P.M.

Coffee Table conversation with Shri Priyank Kharge – Hon’ble Minister for IT/BT

04:30 - 05:00 P.M.

Closing ceremony

05:00 P.M.

End of Event

05:30 P.M.

Venue: Radisson Blu Atria Bengaluru

Introduction Conservation and preserving biodiversity are crucial for sustaining the future of human and other species on earth. India is one of the 10 countries in the world that are home to more than 70% of the biodiversity on the planet. Redefining the value of biodiversity through economic mechanisms can amplify conservation efforts and boost sustainable development. Jonathan Ledgard's groundbreaking concept of "Interspecies Money" emerges as a promising catalyst for species protection and the development of a comprehensive climate stack that will pave the way for an overarching economic definition under which different species can stay protected and continue with their lives.

Interspecies Money The objective is to create a technology enabled climate stack that will use blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to create a digital avatar for every individual of a species using the characteristics that define their individual differences. Using this, each animal of the species will be accorded an economic value which will be utilized to identify, develop, maintain, and recover life cycle activity performed on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis by the species for food, shelter, or procreation.

The Elephant Pilot India is home to about 56% of the Asian elephants in the world. Elephants are the largest mammals on earth and function as the most effective source of seed disposal by virtue of the volume it can eat and excrete. The floppy eared mammal disperses the seeds through distances of up to 65 kilometres aiding the propagation of about 75% of the tree species in the forest. An elephant according to research is valued at 2 million USD over its lifespan (while a dead tusker is valued about 40000 USD). As 25% of the Indian elephants live in the forests of Karnataka, the pilot project of the Interspecies Money Movement is planned to be executed in the Mudumalai Forest that lies in the single ecological continuum that is shared by the Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Importantly, it is easy to envisage the tremendous ripple impact on biodiversity that creating economic value for the ecosystem engineers – the elephants can have across the forests, country, and the world.

Advantages The conventional methods of species protection often fall short due to limited resources, competing priorities, and the absence of clear economic incentives. However, Interspecies Money Movement (IMM) presents an opportunity to transform conservation from a philanthropic endeavour to a self sustaining system. By assigning economic value to biodiversity, governments, corporations, and individuals can recognize the benefits of preserving species and allocate resources accordingly. The IMM will incentivize the conservation of endangered species through mechanisms such as direct payments for ecosystem services, biodiversity offsetting, and sustainable wildlife management. By attaching a monetary value to species preservation, stakeholders become more engaged in safeguarding biodiversity, promoting habitat restoration, and investing in sustainable development practices that benefit both humans and nature.

The Future The IMM also opens up exciting opportunities for scientific discovery and the collection of invaluable data. As humans, we have only identified a fraction of the world's species, with estimates suggesting that less than 10 percent have been catalogued. Within this vast unexplored realm lies an untapped wealth of knowledge, including medicinal plants with potential life-saving properties and entirely new species yet to be discovered. Furthermore, the discovery of new species contributes to human understanding of biodiversity and the intricate web of life on Earth. Each new species identified presents an opportunity to unravel nature's mysteries, deepen knowledge of ecosystems, and inform conservation strategies.

Conclusion Jonathan Ledgard's concept of Interspecies Money offers a transformative perspective on conservation, climate change mitigation, and scientific discovery. The necessary collaboration between governments, communities, and businesses, must be underpinned by forward thinking, inclusive policy frameworks and financial mechanisms.