0:00:00.929,0:00:03.317 (Imitates fishing cat) 0:00:04.802,0:00:08.135 That's my impersonation of a fishing cat, 0:00:08.159,0:00:11.412 which actually sounds more like this. 0:00:12.696,0:00:15.323 (Prerecorded fishing cat sounds) 0:00:17.228,0:00:20.736 It's a cat that loves water, 0:00:20.760,0:00:22.228 loves to fish, 0:00:22.252,0:00:27.529 and lives in some of the most unique[br]and valuable ecosystems on earth: 0:00:27.553,0:00:31.629 the wetlands and mangrove forests[br]of South and Southeast Asia. 0:00:31.653,0:00:33.399 Aren't they fishing awesome? 0:00:33.423,0:00:35.764 (Laughter) 0:00:35.788,0:00:39.010 Fishing cats are one of about 40[br]species of wildcats. 0:00:39.034,0:00:42.055 Like tigers and lions, only much smaller. 0:00:42.434,0:00:45.855 They're probably around twice the size[br]of our average domestic cat. 0:00:46.268,0:00:47.490 In Indonesia, 0:00:47.514,0:00:49.593 people call them "kucing bakau," 0:00:49.617,0:00:53.315 which literally translates[br]to "the cat of the mangroves." 0:00:53.339,0:00:56.736 But I like to call them[br]the tigers of the mangroves. 0:00:57.378,0:01:01.061 Now, we don't know fishing cats[br]as well as we do tigers, 0:01:01.085,0:01:05.182 but what we've learned is that these cats[br]can be a flagship species 0:01:05.206,0:01:07.769 to a globally important ecosystem, 0:01:07.793,0:01:13.015 and a visual bait attached[br]to a strong line for conservation. 0:01:13.500,0:01:14.793 Are you hooked yet? 0:01:14.817,0:01:16.142 (Laughter) 0:01:16.876,0:01:18.718 Like many endangered species, 0:01:18.742,0:01:21.526 fishing cats are threatened[br]by habitat loss, 0:01:21.550,0:01:25.907 mainly because of our international demand[br]for farmed fish and shrimp, 0:01:25.931,0:01:30.122 and the deforestation[br]of nearly half the historic mangrove cover 0:01:30.146,0:01:32.013 in South and Southeast Asia. 0:01:32.615,0:01:34.179 Mangroves, on the other hand, 0:01:34.203,0:01:36.980 are much more than just habitat[br]to the fishing cat. 0:01:37.379,0:01:40.641 They are home to a fantastic[br]array of species, 0:01:40.665,0:01:42.458 like jackals, 0:01:42.482,0:01:44.022 turtles, 0:01:44.046,0:01:45.752 shorebirds 0:01:45.776,0:01:47.760 and otters. 0:01:47.784,0:01:48.886 (Laughter) 0:01:49.633,0:01:51.830 Mangroves also prevent soil erosion, 0:01:51.854,0:01:57.037 and they can be the first line of defense[br]between storm surges, tsunamis 0:01:57.061,0:02:00.315 and the millions of people[br]who live next to these forests 0:02:00.339,0:02:02.339 for their day-to-day survival. 0:02:02.839,0:02:05.252 The fact that puts[br]the icing on the cake -- 0:02:05.276,0:02:07.077 or the earth, I should say -- 0:02:07.101,0:02:08.616 is that mangroves can store 0:02:08.640,0:02:12.347 upwards of five to ten times[br]more carbon dioxide 0:02:12.371,0:02:13.838 than tropical forests. 0:02:14.585,0:02:16.919 So protecting one acre of mangroves 0:02:16.943,0:02:21.823 may well be like protecting five[br]or more acres of tropical forests. 0:02:22.744,0:02:26.855 Would you like to eliminate[br]you entire life's carbon footprint? 0:02:26.879,0:02:29.091 Well, mangroves can offer you 0:02:29.115,0:02:32.448 one of the best bangs[br]for your conservation buck. 0:02:33.641,0:02:36.744 Deforestation, extinction[br]and climate change 0:02:36.768,0:02:39.704 are all global problems that we can solve 0:02:39.728,0:02:43.371 by giving value[br]to our species and ecosystems 0:02:43.395,0:02:45.601 and by working together[br]with the local people 0:02:45.625,0:02:47.092 who live next to them. 0:02:47.704,0:02:52.371 This is one of three river deltas[br]in coastal South India 0:02:52.395,0:02:54.260 where communities came together 0:02:54.284,0:02:58.077 to change the face and potentially,[br]the fate of this planet. 0:02:58.641,0:03:00.054 In less than a decade, 0:03:00.078,0:03:02.283 with international support, 0:03:02.307,0:03:05.752 the state forest departments[br]and the local communities 0:03:05.776,0:03:08.198 worked together to restore 0:03:08.222,0:03:13.171 over 20,000 acres[br]of unproductive fish and shrimp farms 0:03:13.195,0:03:15.085 back into mangroves. 0:03:16.134,0:03:18.396 About five years ago, 0:03:18.420,0:03:22.070 guess who we discovered[br]in these restored mangroves? 0:03:24.997,0:03:29.363 When we shared images[br]of these fishing cats with local people, 0:03:29.387,0:03:31.506 we were able to build pride among them 0:03:31.530,0:03:35.462 about a globally revered[br]endangered species and ecosystem 0:03:35.486,0:03:36.819 in their backyards. 0:03:37.342,0:03:40.246 We were also able to build trust[br]with some people 0:03:40.270,0:03:42.953 to help them lead alternative livelihoods. 0:03:42.977,0:03:45.289 Meet Santosh, a 19-year-old boy 0:03:45.313,0:03:48.067 who not only became[br]a conservation professional 0:03:48.091,0:03:50.416 after working with us[br]for just over a year 0:03:50.440,0:03:53.281 but also went on to involve[br]many local fishermen 0:03:53.305,0:03:56.105 in helping study and protect fishing cats. 0:03:56.561,0:03:59.505 Meet Moshi, a tribal poacher, 0:03:59.529,0:04:00.886 who not only stopped hunting 0:04:00.910,0:04:03.910 and became our most[br]prized conservationist, 0:04:03.934,0:04:06.386 but also used his traditional knowledge 0:04:06.410,0:04:11.055 to educate his entire community[br]to stop hunting fishing cats, otters 0:04:11.079,0:04:12.848 and the many other threatened species 0:04:12.872,0:04:16.117 that live in the mangroves[br]in his backyard. 0:04:16.141,0:04:18.632 Fish and shrimp farmers, like Venkat, 0:04:18.656,0:04:21.683 are now willing to work[br]with us conservationists 0:04:21.707,0:04:26.569 to test the sustainable harvest[br]of ecosystem services like crabs, 0:04:26.593,0:04:29.387 and possibly even honey, from mangroves. 0:04:29.411,0:04:33.577 Incentives that could get them[br]to protect and plant mangroves 0:04:33.601,0:04:35.334 where they have been lost. 0:04:35.982,0:04:37.759 A win-win-win 0:04:37.783,0:04:42.247 for fishing cats, local people[br]and the global community. 0:04:43.485,0:04:46.732 These stories show us[br]that we can all be part of a future 0:04:46.756,0:04:50.279 where fishing cats[br]and the lost mangrove forests 0:04:50.303,0:04:54.174 are protected and restored[br]by fishermen themselves, 0:04:54.198,0:04:56.071 creating carbon sinks 0:04:56.095,0:04:59.737 that can help offset[br]our ecological footprints. 0:05:00.420,0:05:02.871 So while the fishing cat may be small, 0:05:02.895,0:05:07.045 I hope that we've been able[br]to help make it a big deal. 0:05:07.069,0:05:08.895 One that we can all invest in 0:05:08.919,0:05:13.118 to help sustain our lives[br]on earth a little longer. 0:05:13.849,0:05:16.116 Or as our friend here would say ... 0:05:17.119,0:05:19.642 (Prerecorded fishing cat sounds) 0:05:20.151,0:05:21.301 Thank you. 0:05:21.325,0:05:26.253 (Applause)