The Eco Side

In this episode, we chat with one of our partners- Dušan Jelic, who's developing a conservation research plan for the olm in Croatia. We discuss the amazing underwater world he explores on a daily basis. Unveiling these caves secrets and the species that have evolved to thrive there, such as the olm. Listen to find out how we can help this incredible ecosystem that although out of sight and often hard to access, has been damaged by human activities. 

We are not only facing a climate crisis but also an ecological one too. The past decades have witnessed an unprecedented acceleration of species and habitat loss. Tree planting initiatives are often seen as a vital part of the solution, however, how beneficial are they really? Can they release more carbon than they capture? Do they support biodiversity or contribute to the lack of natural habitat available? These are just a few of the questions addressed in this episode on understanding the impact such initiatives have on the landscape.Our guest Matthew Hay, director at Reforesting Scotland & project manager at Forest Carbon together with Hannah Kirkland, our conservation biologist, discuss these fundamental issues. What they reveal about the implications of tree planting very few people know.

Rock climbers are one of the few people interacting with an otherwise remote environment. While a few climbers won't drastically affect the landscape, the growing popularity of the sport means it is more important than ever to spread awareness on how climbers can impact the ecosystem they interact with. Legendary rock climber Hazel Findlay joined us to reflect on sustainable climbing practices and what her own experiences have taught her. We also chat with Mossy Earth conservation biologist and fellow climber, Tiago de Zoeten, to understand the extent of the climbing's impact and what can be done to reduce it.

Our actions today will determine the future of the next generations and the survival of the world as we know it. In this episode, the Mossy Earth team get together to chat about the issues we are facing and possible solutions in restoring the world's natural balance. We share our hopes and the knowledge behind our approach of creating a wilder future. 

Could the fate of successful reforestation lie with this incredible kingdom of organisms?David Satori, from rewilding mycology, guides us through the fascinating hidden world of fungi. Discover how they critically shape the landscape and why failing to protect them would cause devasting consequences. In this chat, we uncover their remarkable potential to help rewild our world and discuss why some reforestation efforts in the UK are failing. Have fungi held the answer all along?

Explore a more scientific side to this incredible movement! Learn about the main issues that occur in damaged ecosystems that rewilding aims to solve. Join us in a conversation with Tiago de Zoeten, one of our conservation biologists to better understand the work involved in rewilding our planet. 

Learn about the movement that has the potential to bring back wilderness and restore damaged ecosystems.  In this episode, the Mossy Earth team discusses what rewilding is really about and how it differs from more traditional approaches to conservation.  You will learn more about this movement from our conservation biologists Hannah and Tiago, you will meet our operation manager Diogo and hear from our co-founder Matt!

Join us as we chat with João Kopke: a surfer, adventurer and keen storyteller about his experiences in the wild and on his recent travels. From experiencing the local way of eating in the Amazon, climbing volcanoes at night in Costa Rica to a thought-provoking realisation on the role that cultures can have to protect our natural world. This episode will inspire you to find the opportunities around you to stay adventurous and embrace the wild.

What goes into restoring a bare landscape into a woodland that will be able to support wildlife? In this episode, you will find out how Ireland came to have the lowest forest cover of all European countries and what is being done about it. Mitch Corbett one of our partners from our project area in Ireland, shares his knowledge on restoring this amazing landscape and what it takes to be a tree planter.

In this episode, we are taken to different corners of the world by adventurer John Horsfall. Discover his world of solo travelling and the different adventures he has embarked on like running 27 marathons in a month across Kenya. From idea to execution and the meaning behind his travels. If you would like to find out how you could make your wildest travel ideas into real memories, this is the episode for you!

Learning how to track wildlife will transform the landscape around you into the complex ecosystem that it is and help you reconnect with the wonders of the natural world.  On our latest visit to Romania, Hannah one of our conservation biologists showed me how to how to track wildlife. In this episode, you learn the basics of tracking, what it is about, who is it for and how to start. 

The Southern Carpathians is the last truly wild area in Europe. Unfortunately, large amounts of the forest are being clear cut at an alarming rate… We are on a mission to protect this precious ecosystem by planting in the areas where clear cuts have exposed the soil and disconnected big portions of land that the wildlife depends on. In this episode, we will let you in behind the scenes on our latest visit to this project area. Find out how we managed to continue our work despite the harsh covid-19 restrictions!

Foraging was once a matter of survival, today Marlow co-founder of Wild Food UK believes it might play an important role in reconnecting people with the natural world. In this episode, we give you an insight on how to take advantage of what nature gives us for free.  A great introduction for those that don't know much about it and an interesting discussion about what foraging is really about and the benefits it can give us.

We are launching three new conservation and rewilding programmes. This is a way for us to focus our efforts on the areas where we think we can have the largest impact on restoring ecosystems and protecting biodiversity. Learn more about The "Ugly" one's programme which is dedicated to the conservation of threatened species that are considered to be uncharismatic, boring or even “ugly”.  Due to their appearance, these species may struggle to find funding, losing out to more attractive and well-known species. Despite being less likeable, we believe these species are worth saving.

People's connection with nature is essential to ensure the protection of our natural world. On this episode, Sam Lee a mossy earth member, lets you in on his way to help people reconnect with nature through his very unique project. Immerse yourself in the wonders of the nocturnal world and discover one of the most talented singers of our time: The nightingale.

Duarte, one of Mossy Earth co-founders, shares his first experience of the Southern Carpathians and a rather thrilling encounter that marked the very beginning of Mossy Earth. If you would like to explore true wilderness, this episode will enlighten you on what not to do and the best way of interacting with the wild world.

In this episode we sat down with professor Jaakko Erkinaro, a research professor at Luke, the natural resources institute in Finland to find out more about the impact human activities have had on rivers worldwide and its negative consequences for freshwater ecosystems. Migratory fish have been heavily affected by the construction of barriers which prevent them from completing their lifecycle. Find out more about these issues and what we can do to re-wild our rivers and bring life back to these precious ecosystems.

True wilderness in modern Europe is rare but you can still find some scattered pockets of what it once was where large predators roam free. Find out more about the remaining predators, the benefits these amazing creatures bring to our ecosystems and the challenges they face.

Discover the tricks that make raising an eco baby, a very simple task. Meet a young Portuguese family whose sustainable journey will inspire you to make way for what is truly important.

Learn about wildlife conservation and immerse yourself in the life of a park ranger. From tracking a herd of buffalo on foot to dehorning rhinos, this episode will take you to the heart of South Africa where iconic wildlife runs free.

Have you ever wondered how to travel great distances while creating zero emissions? Cycling is one of the best ways to balance our ecological ambitions with our passion to explore the natural world. Discover what else there is aside from the greatest tourist attraction and what challenges may lie ahead when crossing Europe all the way to Asia.

In this episode, we dive into what slow living means to our ambassadors Megan and Ben and the incredible impact it can have on our mental health and the health of our planet if we all decided to live slower.