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Many faith practices and tribal traditions command respect for nature and teach life lessons from the natural world. Watch this conversation as faith leaders across different traditions explored common ideas around protecting our shared natural heritage and successful conservation practices.

Sponsor

This session in presented in partnership with Shared Earth Foundation.

About the Participants

Lavinia Currier is the director of Sacharuna Foundation, supporting Indigenous peoples’ rights, endangered species, and wildlife corridors. She directed two feature films, Passion in the Desert and Oka! With her three children, Currier stewards farms and wildlands, working on wildlife corridors in Virginia, reestablishing native forests on Molokai, and rewilding species in the southern San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Imam Saffet Abid Catovic is the head of ISNA’s Office for Interfaith, Community Alliances, and Government Relations. Catovic is a long-time U.S. Muslim community organizer/activist and environmental leader. He was a national organizer of Bosnia Task Force – USA. He served in various senior level capacities in the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina including minister counselor at the Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations – NYC and deputy federation contract administrator at the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States in D.C. from 1992 to 2001.

Rachel Lamb is the chair of the board for A Rocha USA, a Christian conservation organization which engages in scientific research, environmental education, and community-based conservation projects to restore people and places. Lamb’s recent work has centered on using cutting-edge science and technologies to advance strategic reforestation with co-benefits for climate, biodiversity, and human livelihoods.

Jakir Manela is the CEO of Hazon and Pearlstone. Jakir Manela graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2004 and went to work at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center as a Teva Jewish outdoor environmental educator. In 2006, he established Kayam Farm, North America’s first Jewish community farm, at Pearlstone. For the past ten years, Manela has helped lead Pearlstone to its perennial status in the Slingshot Guide as one of the most innovative Jewish organizations in North America.

Michael Nephew is the first vice president of the American Indian Society, DC.