Enric Sala
Enric Sala on Aligning Economic Needs with Conservation
Enric Sala
Keynote Speaker
National Geographic Explorer in Residence; Ecologist; Filmmaker; Author
Dr. Enric Sala is a former university professor who saw himself writing the obituary of ocean life, and quit academia to become a full-time ocean conservationist as a National Geographic Explorer in Residence.
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Dr. Sala’s story is one of passion and determination. Seeing himself writing the obituary of the ocean as a university professor, he had the courage to quit a comfortable academic job to dedicate his life to revive our ocean. He founded and leads National Geographic Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research, media, education and policy work to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. To date, Pristine Seas has helped to create 29 of the largest marine reserves on the planet, covering an area of 6.9 million square km – the size of the Amazon region.
Dr. Sala is a world-renowned voice for nature, especially our ocean. He has published groundbreaking research showing how the ocean can bounce back to life if we just stand back and made a compelling economic case for protecting 30% of our planet by 2030. He translates complex issues into compelling narratives for all types of media, including films, books, and news outlets. He’s the author of The Nature of Nature, a best-selling book published in August 2020 that makes a clear case for why protecting nature is our best health insurance, and why it makes economic sense. With a foreword from HM King Charles and an introduction from E. O. Wilson, his powerful book will change the way you think about our world–and our future. He has produced 35 documentary films, and is an executive producer and science advisor of Ocean with David Attenborough, a major film released in May 2025 that tells the story of why we need a healthy ocean, how we’re abusing, and how to revive it.
Dr. Sala has received numerous awards, including 2008 World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, 2013 Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award, 2013 Environmental Media Association Hero Award, 2016 Russian Geographical Society Award, 2018 Heinz Award in Public Policy, 2021 Emmy Award for Nature Documentary, National Geographic Hubbard Medal, and Albert I Grand Medal. He is an Officer of the Order of San Carlos of Colombia and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Dr. Sala serves on the boards of Global Fishing Watch, Oceano Azul Foundation and Ocean Exploration Trust, and advises international organizations and governments.
Featured Videos
Enric Sala
Enric Sala on the Benefits of Protecting Our Ocean
Enric Sala
Enric Sala on the Effects of Humanity’s Relationship with Nature
Enric Sala
Enric Sala on “The Nature of Nature”
Enric Sala
Enric Sala on Aligning Economic Needs with Conservation
Enric Sala’s Speech Topics
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Why Conservation is Good for Business
Dr. Sala argues that protecting a third of the planet would cost less than what people spend today in videogames – and a third of what governments pay to subsidize industries that destroy nature. Moreover, healthy ecosystems provide many other benefits to society. In the US, for example, every $1 invested by the government in our National Parks produces $10 in economic output. Dr. Sala can comfortably talk about current crises or opportunities for businesses as well as governments to improve their operations and make them more sustainable.
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The Ocean’s Last Wild Places
Based on a lifetime of ocean exploration, Dr. Sala takes us on a journey to the last pristine places left in our ocean, to understand what the ocean of the past was like, what we have lost, and how to bring it back. Using National Geographic images, he shares the wonder of the ocean alongside the lessons learned by visiting the last wild places left.
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How to Change the World
Dr. Sala uses his life story with a mission to save the ocean to inspire others to achieve their dreams to change the world. He went from a boy dreaming to be an ocean explorer in a small town in northern Spain to become an authority in marine biology, and then to create Pristine Seas, the most effective ocean conservation program in the world. He’s now a trusted source of marine science and advises world leaders on how to protect our ocean to benefit marine life, people and economies. In an uplifting and inspiring presentation, Dr. Sala shares stories and images from his travels to the wildest places in our ocean to high-level policy meetings.
Featured News
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New York Times -
Washington Post How protecting the ocean can save species and fight climate change
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World Economic Forum Protecting the ocean is key to fighting climate change
Works by Enric Sala
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Enric Sala
Pristine Seas -
Enric Sala
The Nature of Nature
Enric Sala Topics & Types
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