A convening of practitioners and funders to develop strategies that expand the conservation footprint and ensure a future for Africa’s lions.
May 6-9, 2019
Orlando, Florida | Hosted at The Walt Disney World Resort
Invite Only
Presented by the Wildlife Conservation Network with support from The Walt Disney Company in celebration of Disney’s The Lion King.
About the Forum
We are convening leading practitioners, funders and other experts to look holistically and collaboratively at the gaps in lion and lion landscape conservation. Some of the goals of this event are to:
- Have a shared understanding of the current conservation footprint across lion range, with a clarity on major gaps by using a new conservation footprint analysis for lions
- Discuss collaborative and strategic efforts to grow and deepen the conservation footprint for lions, with a specific focus on Africa’s protected areas and community-based approaches
- Stimulate new projects, immediate action, and deeper investments to improve conservation management via new catalytic funding opportunities
- Produce tangible outputs to guide and support lion conservation activities going forward
The Lion Footprint Forum is produced by the Wildlife Conservation Network and its Lion Recovery Fund team, with generous support from The Walt Disney Company.
Lion Footprint Forum Schedule
Monday, May 6
5:00–7:00PM Welcome Reception
Check-in table open outside Monterrey room starting at 4:30PM.
Tuesday, May 7
7:30–8:30AM Breakfast
8:30–8:50AM Welcome & Opening
Check-in table open outside Coronado H room starting at 8:00AM.
8:50–9:30AM Introductions and Agenda
9:30–10:45AM Understanding the Maps
Break 10:45–11:15AM
11:15–12:15PM Identifying the greatest geographic gaps in lion conservation
12:15–12:30PM Disney Presentation
Lunch 12:30–1:30PM
1:30–2:00PM Identifying the greatest geographic gaps in lion conservation
2:00–3:00PM Identifying the non-geographic gaps in lion conservation
Break 3:00–3:30PM
3:30–4:00PM Identifying the non-geographic gaps in lion conservation
4:00 – 4:50PM Introducing the idea of coordinated efforts
4:50–5:00PM Close
5:15–6:45PM Funder breakout session
6:30–7:00PM Transport to Epcot
7:00–9:30PM Special evening at Epcot
9:30–10:00PM Transport from Epcot back to Coronado Springs
Wednesday, May 8
7:30–8:30AM Breakfast
8:30–9:00AM Opening
9:00–10:30AM Funder breakout session; key questions
9:00–10:30AM Practitioner breakout session: building a coordinated project
Break 10:30–11:00AM
11:00–12:30PM Building a coordinated project
11:00-12:30PM Funder breakout session on key questions
Lunch 12:30–1:30PM
1:30–2:30PM Building a coordinated project & funder visits
Break 2:30–3:00PM
3:00–3:45PM Regional group report out
3:45–4:20PM Funder panel
4:20–4:30PM Meeting close
4:30–4:45PM Transport to Disney’s Animal Kingdom begins
5:30–10:30PM Special evening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
11:00PM Last bus transportation from Disney’s Animal Kingdom back to Coronado Springs Resort
Thursday, May 9
7:00–8:00AM Breakfast
8:00–8:15AM Opening & Reflection
8:15–9:00AM Create an overview for the project to share with the group
9:00–10:00AM Project report out
Break 10:00–10:15AM (Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort check-out is at 11:00AM)
10:15–11:15AM How to take this work forward
11:15–11:30AM Closing remarks and what comes next
Monday, May 6
5:00–7:00PM Welcome Reception
Check-in table open outside Monterrey room starting at 4:30PM.
Tuesday, May 7
7:30–8:30AM Breakfast
8:30–8:50AM Welcome & Opening
Check-in table open outside Coronado H room starting at 8:00AM.
8:50–9:30AM Introductions and Agenda
9:30–10:45AM Understanding the Maps
Break 10:45–11:15AM
11:15–12:15PM Identifying the greatest geographic gaps in lion conservation
12:15–12:30PM Disney Presentation
Lunch 12:30–1:30PM
1:30–2:00PM Identifying the greatest geographic gaps in lion conservation
2:00–3:00PM Identifying the non-geographic gaps in lion conservation
Break 3:00–3:30PM
3:30–4:00PM Identifying the non-geographic gaps in lion conservation
4:00 – 4:50PM Introducing the idea of coordinated efforts
4:50–5:00PM Close
5:15–6:45PM Funder breakout session
6:30–7:00PM Transport to Epcot
7:00–9:30PM Special evening at Epcot
9:30–10:00PM Transport from Epcot back to Coronado Springs
Wednesday, May 8
7:30–8:30AM Breakfast
8:30–9:00AM Opening
9:00–10:30AM Funder breakout session; key questions
9:00–10:30AM Practitioner breakout session: building a coordinated project
Break 10:30–11:00AM
11:00–12:30PM Building a coordinated project
11:00-12:30PM Funder breakout session on key questions
Lunch 12:30–1:30PM
1:30–2:30PM Building a coordinated project & funder visits
Break 2:30–3:00PM
3:00–3:45PM Regional group report out
3:45–4:20PM Funder panel
4:20–4:30PM Meeting close
4:30–4:45PM Transport to Disney’s Animal Kingdom begins
5:30–10:30PM Special evening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
11:00PM Last bus transportation from Disney’s Animal Kingdom back to Coronado Springs Resort
Thursday, May 9
7:00–8:00AM Breakfast
8:00–8:15AM Opening & Reflection
8:15–9:00AM Create an overview for the project to share with the group
9:00–10:00AM Project report out
Break 10:00–10:15AM (Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort check-out is at 11:00AM)
10:15–11:15AM How to take this work forward
11:15–11:30AM Closing remarks and what comes next
Frequently Asked Questions
Are accommodations and meals provided during the forum?
Accommodation will be provided at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Disney is generously covering accommodation costs for participants and covering group meals during the Forum.
How long is my hotel covered for?
Travelers from the U.S. will be covered Monday, May 6th through check out on Thursday, May 9th. International travelers have the option of arriving on Sunday, May 5th and departing the evening of May 9th.
Who is expected to pay for travel costs?
Participants are responsible for their own airfare to and from Orlando. WCN has limited travel grants available to help defray costs for eligible participants.
How does the travel grants program work?
WCN will be providing a limited number of travel grants to defray the costs of attendee airfare to the meeting. Grants are $1500 (USD) per person and should only be used to cover the costs of economy class flights for invited attendees. To apply for a travel grant, we will ask you to fill out the survey that was sent with the official invitation. This survey will ask for additional information on your anticipated travel plans/costs. The deadline to apply for a travel grant is March 1. Selected recipients will receive the funds as a wire.
Will there be transportation provided once I arrive?
Yes, The Disney Magical Express will provide your free shuttle to the hotel. You will be asked to provide your flight details closer to the event date so that we can arrange your shuttle pickup from the airport.
In addition to transportation between meeting events for attendees, there are a few transportation options. Please visit this website to learn more.
What is there to do around The Walt Disney Resort?
Visit this website to learn what there is do to around The Walt Disney Resort.
Can I bring my family with me?
The Forum is for invitees only. We realize Orlando and Walt Disney World offer great family experiences, so you may wish to extend your trip and bring your family, though you will need to cover any extra costs.
What is Disney's role in all this? How does this relate to Disney's The Lion King?
The Walt Disney Company is generously sponsoring the Forum by covering meeting space, accommodation, and meals. They have also committed to supporting grants for lion conservation – continuing a long-standing commitment that already includes more than $13 million in support to African conservation projects since The Disney Conservation Fund was established. We anticipates Disney’s The Lion King film will generate extensive public interest in lions and Disney has a genuine interest in leveraging that attention to aid lion conservation.
At the Forum, Disney staff (mostly conservation and science representatives) will be present and there may be some photo and video taken to document the meeting and potentially for communications efforts related to raising awareness for lion conservation as part of Disney’s The Lion King.
What are you doing about balanced representation at the meeting?
We feel strongly that the Footprint Forum – and lion conservation more broadly – is better served when diverse and balanced perspectives are present and included. We are working hard to make sure the Forum is well represented by African organizations and also African representatives from international organizations. We’ve committed to representing a diverse and inclusive set of viewpoints both at the Footprint Forum and in the pre-event planning process.
Also, we would love to have this meeting on African soil within a lion range state. However, a meeting this size is complicated and costly, so we can keep costs low by holding it on Disney property (Disney is generously covering accommodation, meals, and other logistics).
Do I need to prepare a presentation?
We are doing everything we can to ensure the Forum is productive and leads to tangible outcomes. In terms of making this meeting impactful, WCN has engaged Impact By Design, a professional team who specializes in meeting design and facilitation. The Forum will be highly participatory, so there is no need to prepare a presentation unless you are asked.
Can I invite other people?
Because of space restrictions, we are not likely able to accommodate additional invitees. We are happy to receive feedback or suggestions for invitees, though our event attendance is currently near capacity. You can reach out to us at footprint@wildnet.org.
What should I wear to the Forum meeting and the other Forum activities?
We suggest business casual for the meeting itself. There will be evening activities for which we suggest bringing walking shoes and comfortable clothes. In addition, please be aware that Florida does have casual daily thunderstorms, so be prepared by packing a light raincoat and appropriate shoes. We also suggest bringing a reusable water bottle.