TED2019
Ashwin Naidu: The link between fishing cats and mangrove forest conservation
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Mangrove forests are crucial to the health of the planet, gobbling up CO2 from the atmosphere and providing a home for a diverse array of species. But these rich habitats are under continual threat from deforestation and industry. In an empowering talk, conservationist and TED Fellow Ashwin Naidu shares how community-driven efforts in South and Southeast Asia are working to protect mangroves -- all with a little help from the mysterious and endangered fishing cat.
Ashwin Naidu - Fishing cat conservationist
Ashwin Naidu founded the Fishing Cat Conservancy to empower local people in South and Southeast Asia to help fishing cats and their globally critical mangrove habitat. Full bio
Ashwin Naidu founded the Fishing Cat Conservancy to empower local people in South and Southeast Asia to help fishing cats and their globally critical mangrove habitat. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
(Imitates fishing cat)
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That's my impersonation of a fishing cat,
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which actually sounds more like this.
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(Prerecorded fishing cat sounds)
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It's a cat that loves water,
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loves to fish,
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and lives in some of the most unique
and valuable ecosystems on earth:
and valuable ecosystems on earth:
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the wetlands and mangrove forests
of South and Southeast Asia.
of South and Southeast Asia.
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Aren't they fishing awesome?
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(Laughter)
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Fishing cats are one of about 40
species of wildcats.
species of wildcats.
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Like tigers and lions, only much smaller.
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They're probably around twice the size
of our average domestic cat.
of our average domestic cat.
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In Indonesia,
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people call them "kucing bakau,"
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which literally translates
to "the cat of the mangroves."
to "the cat of the mangroves."
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But I like to call them
the tigers of the mangroves.
the tigers of the mangroves.
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Now, we don't know fishing cats
as well as we do tigers,
as well as we do tigers,
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but what we've learned is that these cats
can be a flagship species
can be a flagship species
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to a globally important ecosystem,
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and a visual bait attached
to a strong line for conservation.
to a strong line for conservation.
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Are you hooked yet?
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(Laughter)
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Like many endangered species,
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fishing cats are threatened
by habitat loss,
by habitat loss,
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mainly because of our international demand
for farmed fish and shrimp,
for farmed fish and shrimp,
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and the deforestation
of nearly half the historic mangrove cover
of nearly half the historic mangrove cover
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in South and Southeast Asia.
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Mangroves, on the other hand,
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are much more than just habitat
to the fishing cat.
to the fishing cat.
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They are home to a fantastic
array of species,
array of species,
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like jackals,
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turtles,
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shorebirds
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and otters.
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(Laughter)
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Mangroves also prevent soil erosion,
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and they can be the first line of defense
between storm surges, tsunamis
between storm surges, tsunamis
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and the millions of people
who live next to these forests
who live next to these forests
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for their day-to-day survival.
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The fact that puts
the icing on the cake --
the icing on the cake --
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or the earth, I should say --
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is that mangroves can store
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upwards of five to ten times
more carbon dioxide
more carbon dioxide
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than tropical forests.
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So protecting one acre of mangroves
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may well be like protecting five
or more acres of tropical forests.
or more acres of tropical forests.
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Would you like to eliminate
you entire life's carbon footprint?
you entire life's carbon footprint?
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Well, mangroves can offer you
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one of the best bangs
for your conservation buck.
for your conservation buck.
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Deforestation, extinction
and climate change
and climate change
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are all global problems that we can solve
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by giving value
to our species and ecosystems
to our species and ecosystems
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and by working together
with the local people
with the local people
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who live next to them.
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This is one of three river deltas
in coastal South India
in coastal South India
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where communities came together
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to change the face and potentially,
the fate of this planet.
the fate of this planet.
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In less than a decade,
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with international support,
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the state forest departments
and the local communities
and the local communities
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worked together to restore
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over 20,000 acres
of unproductive fish and shrimp farms
of unproductive fish and shrimp farms
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back into mangroves.
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About five years ago,
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guess who we discovered
in these restored mangroves?
in these restored mangroves?
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When we shared images
of these fishing cats with local people,
of these fishing cats with local people,
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we were able to build pride among them
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about a globally revered
endangered species and ecosystem
endangered species and ecosystem
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in their backyards.
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We were also able to build trust
with some people
with some people
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to help them lead alternative livelihoods.
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Meet Santosh, a 19-year-old boy
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who not only became
a conservation professional
a conservation professional
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after working with us
for just over a year
for just over a year
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but also went on to involve
many local fishermen
many local fishermen
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in helping study and protect fishing cats.
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Meet Moshi, a tribal poacher,
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who not only stopped hunting
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and became our most
prized conservationist,
prized conservationist,
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but also used his traditional knowledge
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to educate his entire community
to stop hunting fishing cats, otters
to stop hunting fishing cats, otters
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and the many other threatened species
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that live in the mangroves
in his backyard.
in his backyard.
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Fish and shrimp farmers, like Venkat,
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are now willing to work
with us conservationists
with us conservationists
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to test the sustainable harvest
of ecosystem services like crabs,
of ecosystem services like crabs,
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and possibly even honey, for mangroves.
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Incentives that could get them
to protect and plant mangroves
to protect and plant mangroves
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where they have been lost.
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A win-win-win
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for fishing cats, local people
and the global community.
and the global community.
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These stories show us
that we can all be part of a future
that we can all be part of a future
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where fishing cats
and the lost mangrove forests
and the lost mangrove forests
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are protected and restored
by fishermen themselves,
by fishermen themselves,
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creating carbon sinks
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that can help offset
our ecological footprints.
our ecological footprints.
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So while the fishing cat may be small,
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I hope that we've been able
to help make it a big deal.
to help make it a big deal.
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One that we can all invest in
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to help sustain our lives
on earth a little longer.
on earth a little longer.
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Or as our friend here would say ...
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(Prerecorded fishing cat sounds)
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ashwin Naidu - Fishing cat conservationistAshwin Naidu founded the Fishing Cat Conservancy to empower local people in South and Southeast Asia to help fishing cats and their globally critical mangrove habitat.
Why you should listen
Mangroves protect coastal communities from tsunamis, sequester carbon and are an essential source of fish. They're also extremely vulnerable to deforestation, primarily from fish and shrimp farming. Ashwin Naidu's Fishing Cat Conservancy offers local people conservation jobs and alternative livelihoods, such as monitoring fishing cats and reforesting mangroves in their own lands, and encourages global communities to offset their carbon footprints by helping restore this crucial ecosystem.
Ashwin Naidu | Speaker | TED.com