Organised by the Devon Maritime Forum in partnership with SWEEP, North Devon Marine Pioneer and WWF UK Seas, this free event will introduce the notion of natural capital to a range of marine business and organisations from across the South West.

What is Natural Capital?

As a region, the South West of England is hugely dependent on its natural capital, and particularly its marine natural capital, for its economic prosperity.

Its outstanding marine environment and abundant marine assets provide the natural capital upon which many key regional industries, including the fishing/aquaculture; marine renewable; and marine and coastal tourism/leisure sectors, are built. Given the scale and importance of marine natural capital to the South West’s economy combined with the region’s world-leading expertise in marine science and environmental economics, it is not surprising that the South West of England has emerged as a global pioneer in implementing and testing the natural capital approach.

About the day

The first conference of its kind, the South West Marine Natural Capital Conference will provide an excellent opportunity for leading practitioners, businesses and interested stakeholders to learn more about natural capital, the natural capital approach, and the region’s marine and coastal assets. Central to the day will be the showcasing of the Marine Pioneer, SWEEP and UK SEAS projects and the unique opportunity to learn about and engage with the individual projects and as well as to explore their common themes, challenges and ambitions.

The Programme

9.30am Registration

10.00-10.15

> Welcome and housekeeping
> Devon Maritime Forum Chairman's Introduction - Prof. Ed Maltby
> The Day - Steve Smith, Principal Facilitator

10.15 - 11.05 Session 1 - Context

> What Nature Does for Britain - Tony Juniper, Campaigner, Writer, Environmentalist
> Natural Capital Approaches and their use in Coastal and Marine Management - Mel Austen, Head of Science, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
> Reflections on the Natural Capital Approach - facilitated small group discussions

11.05 - 11.30 Refreshment Break

11.30 - 13.00 Session 2 - Three Key Projects

> SWEEP - Martin Attrill, Director of Plymouth University Marine Institute
> North Devon Biosphere Marine Pioneer - Chrissie Ingle, Marine Pioneer Coordinator
> WWF UK Seas Project - Jenny Oates, UK Seas Programme Manager
> The Potential for Natural Capital Projects - faciliated small group discussions
> Questions for speakers

13.00 - 14.00 Buffet Lunch
Included free of charge

14.00 - 15.10 Session 3 - Discussion groups and topic workshops

> Introduction - Steve Smith, Principal Facilitator
> What does Marine Capital Mean to You? - small group discussion
> Topic Workshop 1 - small group discussion

15.10 - 15.20 Refreshment break

15.20 Topic Workshop 2

16.00 Closing remarks

16.15 Conference close

Speaker Biography - Tony Juniper
Tony Juniper is a campaigner, writer, sustainability advisor, and leading British environmentalist. Tony has written several books, including the multi-award winning best-seller What has Nature ever done for us?, and works as a Special Adviser to the Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit.

Who should attend?

Anyone with an interest in the marine environment or marine economy. The event will help delegates to understand how a natural capital approach to valuing our marine assets can be beneficially adopted in a range of situations.