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Shae discusses green colonialism, what it is, how we see it in climate activism and the overall nuances that come with considering solutions to confront climate change and better ourselves as activists. To get a better understanding of this, Shae interviews Tiahni Adamson from Bush Heritage Australia.This show features music: Coming Home by Joey Leigh Wagtail and Cameleon by Ziggy Ramo. References Akama, J. S., Maingi, S. and Carmago, B. A. (2011) ‘Wildlife Conservation, Safari Tourism and the Role of Tourism Certification in Kenya: A Postcolonial Critique', Tourism Recreation Research, 36(3)Bocarejo, D. and Ojeda, D. (2016) ‘Violence and Conservation: Beyond Unintended Consequences and Unfortunate Coincidences', Geoforum, 69, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.11.001. Gilio-Whitaker, D. (2019) The Story We've Been Told About America's National Parks Is Incomplete. Available at: https://time.com/5562258/indigenous-environmental-justice/ Jago, R. (2020) Canada's National Parks are Colonial Crime Scenes. Available at: https://thewalrus.ca/canadas-national-parks-are-colonial-crime-scenes/ Dowie, M. (2011) Conservation Refugees: The Hundred-Year Conflict between Global Conservation and Native Peoples. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. Kimmerer, R. W. (2013) Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions. Luke, T. W. (1997) ‘The World Wildlife Fund: Ecocolonialism as Funding the Worldwide “Wise Use” of Nature', Capitalism Nature Socialism, 8(2), doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10455759709358734. Adams, W. M. (2017) ‘Sleeping with the enemy? Biodiversity conservation, corporations and the green economy', Journal of Political Ecology, 24(1), doi:https://doi.org/10.2458/v24i1.20804. Allen, K. (2018) ‘Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation', Conservation and Society, 16(3), doi:http://www.jstor.org/stable/26500638. Bhattacharyya, J. and Slocombe, S. (2017) ‘Animal Agency: Wildlife Management from a Kincentric Perspective', Ecosphere, 8(10), doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1978. Büscher, B., Sullivan, S., Neves, K., Igoe, J. and Brockington, D. (2012) ‘Towards a Synthesized Critique of Neoliberal Biodiversity Conservation', Capitalism Nature Socialism, 23(2), doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10455752.2012.674149.Cox, P. A., Elmqvist, T. (1997) ‘Ecocolonialism and Indigenous-Controlled Rainforest Preserves in Samoa', Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 26(2).Crosby, A. (1986) Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fletcher, R. (2010) ‘Neoliberal Environmentality: Towards a Poststructuralist Political Ecology of the Conservation Debate', Conservation and Society, 8(3), doi:http://www.jstor.org/stable/26393009 Goldman, M. J. (2020) Narrating Nature: Wildlife Conservation and Maasai Ways of Knowing. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press. Mantaay, J. (2002) ‘Mapping Environmental Injustices: Pitfalls and Potential of Geographic Information Systems in Assessing Environmental Health and Equity', Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(2), doi:10.1289/ehp.02110s2161. Mei-Singh, L. (2016) ‘Carceral Conservationism: Contested Landscapes and Technologies of Dispossession at Ka‘ena Point, Hawai‘i', American Quarterly, 68(3), doi:https://doi.org/10.1353/aq.2016.0059. Mitall, A. and Fraser, E. (2018) ‘Losing the Serengeti: The Maasai Land that was to Run Forever', The Oakland Institute.Neale, T. (2017) Wild Articulations: Environmentalism and Indigeneity in Northern Australia. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. Nogrady, B. (2019) ‘Trauma of Australia's Indigenous 'Stolen Generations' is still affecting children today', Nature (London), 570(7762), doi:10.1038/d41586-019-01948-3. Pascoe, B. (2014) Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and the Birth of Agriculture. Broome: Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation. Smith, W., Neale, T., Weir, J. K. (2021) ‘Persuasion Without Policies: The Work of Reviving Indigenous Peoples' Fire Management in Southern Australia', Geoforum, 120, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.01.015. Steffensen, V. (2020) Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia. Melbourne: Hardie Grant Explore. Tuck, E. and Yang, K. W. (2012) ‘Decolonization is not a Metaphor', Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society, 1(1). Whyte, K. P, Brewer, J. P, Johnson, J. T. (2016) ‘Weaving Indigenous Science, Protocols and Sustainability Science', Sustainability Science, 11(1) doi:10.1007/s11625-015-0296-6 Whyte, K. P. (2017) ‘Is it Colonial Dèja-Vu? Indigenous Peoples and Climate Injustice', Humanities for the Environment: Integrating knowledge, forming new constellations of practice, ed. By Joni Adamson and Michael Davis.Whyte, K. P. (2018) White Allies, Let's Be Honest About Decolonization. Available at: https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/decolonize/2018/04/03/white-allies-lets-be-honest-about decolonization.Wood, S, Bowman, D. (2011) ‘Alternative stable states and the role of fire–vegetation– soil feedbacks in the temperate wilderness of southwest Tasmania', Landscape Ecology. WebsitesBush Heritage Australia - https://www.bushheritage.org.au/?srsltid=AfmBOoqnkDeqMH5UAddiKk5QZWOwRDVP4bwRvCB7JKs4c79eaYt6Z7cqCountry Needs People - https://www.countryneedspeople.org.au/These Sacred Hills - https://sacredhillsfilm.com/ North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance - https://nailsma.org.au/ Australian Land Conservation Alliance - https://alca.org.au/ Indigenous Desert Alliance - https://www.indigenousdesertalliance.com/z
In this episode, we consider a creature we often don't think much about—the snail. And not just snails, but their sex lives. Which, as it turns out, is epic. There is persuasion and subterfuge, spaghetti penises and co-copulation. And this very surprising habit—erm kink—of making tiny arrows (actually!) and stabbing each other with them. Known as a “love dart,” these limestone daggers aren't just a strange trick of nature—they have a deep evolutionary purpose. Special thanks to Menno Schilthuizen and Aaron Chase.EPISODE CREDITS: Hosted by - Molly Webster Reported by - Molly Webster Produced by - Mona Madgavkar, Annie McEwen, Molly Webster Sound design contributed by - Mona Madgavkar, Annie McEwen Fact-checking by - Diane A. Kelly and Edited by - Alex Neason EPISODE CITATIONS: Videos - A love dart being DARTED! (https://zpr.io/rYhLwXhaxQQP) – Molly has watched this video so many times Articles - Changes in the reproductive system of the snail Helix aspersa caused by mucus from the love dart. (https://zpr.io/xxjuCcTyiVJV) by Koene JM, Chase R. J Exp Biol. The snail's love-dart delivers mucus to increase paternity. By Chase R, Blanchard KC. Proc Biol Sci. A love-dart at the heart of sexual conflict in snails (https://zpr.io/X2ANHPaEg5sr) by Foote C ** This article has an image of eight different love darts, and it's what Molly shows to Soren in the episode (this image is one of her favorite research finds!) Books - “Nature's Nether Regions: What the Sex Lives of Bugs, Birds, and Beasts Tell Us About Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ourselves” (https://zpr.io/ktMvJbZciCdD) by evolutionary biologist Menno Schilthuizen. Signup for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)! Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org. Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Kevin Webb, Managing Director of Superorganism, joins Erum and Karl to discuss why biodiversity is the next frontier for venture capital. After 15 years backing SaaS unicorns and marketplaces, Kevin made a radical pivot to launch a $25M fund focused exclusively on biodiversity-driven startups. In this conversation, Kevin breaks down why nature has been catastrophically undervalued in our economic systems, how his fund identifies venture-scale opportunities in everything from invasive species leather to AI-powered ecosystem monitoring, and why measuring biodiversity is infinitely harder than tracking carbon emissions. He shares portfolio highlights including companies turning Burmese pythons into luxury goods, explains why sea otters would make ideal board members, and reveals the cultural, technological, and regulatory shifts that could transform biodiversity from a conservation concern into a mainstream asset class within the next decade. This episode is essential listening for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the intersection of nature, technology, and capital.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters:(00:00:00) - Nature as Undervalued Infrastructure(00:01:00) - AI, Intelligence Premium, and Economic Disruption(00:05:00) - Animation, Uploaded Intelligence, and Biotech Narratives(00:09:00) - Color, Bio-Dyes, and Experiencing the World(00:12:00) - Kevin Webb's Journey from SaaS to Biodiversity VC(00:17:00) - Why Biodiversity Is Harder to Quantify Than Carbon(00:21:00) - Superorganism's Investment Thesis and Portfolio(00:26:00) - Invasive Species as Business Opportunity: Python Leather(00:32:00) - Biodiversity, Human Health, and Disease Spillover(00:36:00) - Misconceptions About Building in Biodiversity(00:40:00) - Fund Raising, LPs, and Long-Term Capital(00:45:00) - Quick Fire Round: Sea Otters, Octopi, and Redwoods(00:50:00) - eDNA, Measurement, and the Future of Nature TechLinks and Resources:Superorganism131. Leaf It to Science: How Foray Bioscience's Ashley Beckwith is Reforesting the Future64. Swaying Away from Plastics: Julia Marsh's Seaweed Solutions159. The Future Is Fungi Awards: From Mushroom Dreams to Real-World ThingsThe Color FactoryThe 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis - Citrini Research Atoms vs.Bits - Citrini ResearchTopics Covered:biodiversity investing, biodiversity venture capital, Superorganism VC, Kevin Webb Superorganism, nature based solutions startups, invasive species business model, climate and biodiversity tech, impact investing in nature, biodiversity as an asset classHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow EverythingMusic by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Theresa Crimmins, director for the USA National Phenology Network, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, and the author of Phenology (The MIT Press, 2025), introduce the year-long series on local wildlife with a look at signs of spring and what changes in plants and animals will signal the coming season. => We want to see your signs of spring! Post a picture to your Instagram story; tag @brianlehrershow; and use the hashtag #BLWild and we'll repost them to our Instagram stories this month. Photo: Trout Lily, a NYC woodland wildflower that blooms in early spring. (This year that might be mid-April). (Marielle Anzelone)
It is officially bird nesting season! Today, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD is asking people to play their part by helping to protect birds and wildlife. Legislation does majorly prohibit the pruning or removal of hedgerows during nesting season, but why are these hedgerows so important? All to discuss with Eanna ni Lamhna, biologist, environmentalist broadcaster and author.
It is officially bird nesting season! Today, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD is asking people to play their part by helping to protect birds and wildlife. Legislation does majorly prohibit the pruning or removal of hedgerows during nesting season, but why are these hedgerows so important? All to discuss with Eanna ni Lamhna, biologist, environmentalist broadcaster and author.
What does “native” really mean — and who decides?In this episode of Garden Dilemmas, Mary Stone explores native vs. invasive plants, urban gardens, biodiversity, and ecosystem balance.From dandelions to the marmorated stink bug, this episode reflects on what belonging means in a rapidly changing landscape. Inspired by Point State Park in Pittsburgh and the writings of Peter Del Tredici, Mary examines novel ecosystems, adaptation, and how urban environments balance native and non-native plants.A thoughtful look at nature, resilience, and coexistence.Link to the Companion Post: Native vs. Invasive Plants: Who Decides? May we tend wisely, welcome thoughtfully, and grow together. Related Stories & Helpful Links:· Ep. 99 - Wonders of Witch Hazel· Wonders of Witch Hazel - Blog Post· Point State Park, an Urban Garden- Pittsburgh, PA · Ep 157. Benefits of Plantain & Dandelion 'Weeds'· Benefits of Plantain & Dandelion “Weeds” - Blog Post8888I'd love to hear your garden and nature stories, as well as your thoughts on topics for future podcast episodes. You can email me at AskMaryStone@gmail.com. You can follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook and Instagram #MaryElaineStone.You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your favorite podcast app.Thank you for sharing the Garden of Life, Mary Stone Columnist & Garden DesignerMore about the Podcast and Column: Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries. It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about. Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.comDirect Link to Podcast Page
Biodiversity loss is an ongoing challenge, but some of the language we use to describe it may be on shakier ground than we realize. Are we really living through a “sixth mass extinction”? What does that phrase technically imply, and how well is it supported by the data? And what about climate change: how much species-level extinction can credibly be attributed to warming so far, and how do you attribute causes when multiple threats interact?To explore these questions, I spoke with John Wiens, an ecologist at the University of Arizona whose work focuses on extinction rates and climate-driven range losses. We discuss what the evidence suggests about acceleration (or the lack thereof) in extinction in recent decades, why documented extinctions have been concentrated on islands and in freshwater systems, and how climate change is expected to reshape extinction risk through mechanisms like heat extremes, shifting range limits, and disease dynamics. The thread running through it all is credibility and ambition: how to communicate urgency without overclaiming, and why a stronger conservation goal is not “avoiding a mass extinction,” but preventing extinctions wherever we still can.Links to resourcesFuture threats to biodiversity and pathways to their prevention - The 2017 Tilman et al. article that John referred to in our discussionQuestioning the sixth mass extinction - A 2025 article by John and colleagueVisit www.case4conservation.com
India's grasslands and savannas are among the most overlooked and misrepresented ecosystems in the country. Frequently labelled as “wastelands,” these open natural ecosystems have been systematically excluded from biodiversity policy, targeted for tree plantations, infrastructure, and renewable energy projects, and widely misunderstood in both public and scientific discourse. Yet grassland ecosystems support exceptional grassland biodiversity, sustain millions of pastoral livelihoods, and play a critical role in Indian biodiversity and long-term biodiversity conservation.In this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, Anish Banerjee speaks with Dr. Abi T. Vanak, conservation scientist and Director of the Centre for Policy Design at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Dr. Vanak's work focuses on grassland ecology, grassland biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and the science–policy interface shaping land-use decisions across India.The conversation examines what grasslands and other open natural ecosystems truly are, and how grassland ecology differs fundamentally from forest systems. Dr. Vanak explains how colonial-era land classifications and post-independence governance frameworks led to grasslands being misidentified as degraded forests or wastelands, a misconception that continues to influence grassland conservation, compensatory afforestation, and land-use planning today.We discuss how this misclassification has had severe consequences for grassland biodiversity, particularly for species such as the Indian wolf, blackbuck, Great Indian Bustard, and lesser florican. Despite receiving high levels of legal protection, these species continue to decline because their grassland habitats fall largely outside protected areas and mainstream biodiversity conservation frameworks.The episode also explores the ecological and economic importance of pastoralism, the contribution of extensive livestock systems to Indian biodiversity, and the deep connections between pastoral livelihoods, grassland biodiversity conservation, and resilient landscapes. Dr. Vanak shares insights from grassland restoration projects across India, demonstrating how science-based grassland restoration can improve soil carbon, water availability, and biodiversity outcomes, often more effectively than tree-based approaches.We also examine the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, particularly solar and wind projects, and how poorly planned siting can fragment grassland ecosystems and undermine biodiversity conservation goals. The discussion extends to mesocarnivore ecology, the impacts of free-ranging dogs on wildlife, disease and hybridization risks for Indian wolves, and the broader challenge of conserving biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes.Throughout the episode, Dr. Vanak argues for a shift away from forest-centric conservation towards landscape-level, community-led approaches that recognize grasslands as vital ecosystems. This conversation highlights why grassland conservation, grassland restoration, and evidence-based biodiversity policy are essential for safeguarding Indian biodiversity in the coming decades.#grassland #grasslandconservation #grasslandbiodiversity #grasslandbiodiversityconservation #grasslandrestoration #biodiversityconservation #biodiversity #biodiversitypolicy #grasslandecology #indianbiodiversity Get full access to The Think Wildlife Podcast at anishbanerjee.substack.com/subscribe
On this MiniPod episode, Niki Roach is joined by The Guardian's Biodiversity correspondent - Phoebe Weston. Together, they discuss: 1) Why honey bees aren't necessarily good for ecosystems and the Italian island that's banned them. 2) China's carbon dioxide emissions fall by 1% in the final quarter of 2025. 3) And a radical project in Belgium that's turning off street lights to preserve wildlife. Thanks to our sponsors BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment for their support of Planet Possible. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland
From cloud forests to coral reefs - how Opwall blends science, education and conservation impact with Dr Tom Martin, Head of Research at OpwallDid you know that Operation Wallacea has taken more than 15,000 students into the field over the past 30 years.But what actually happens on an expedition? How does the science work? And how can an experience like this shape an entire conservation career?In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Tom Martin, Head of Research at Opwall, to unpack how their unique model combines rigorous academic research with hands-on field training across nine countries worldwide.We talk about long-term biodiversity datasets, climate change in cloud forests, marine research programmes, and why practical field skills are becoming increasingly valuable in today's conservation job market.If you've ever considered gaining field experience overseas - or wondered how organisations like Opwall contribute to global conservation science - this episode will give you clarity and insight.It's an expeditions, ecology, and research podcast. Enjoy.---Join CC – www.conservation-careers.com/join Opwall website - https://www.opwall.com/ Opwall Instagram site - https://www.instagram.com/operation_wallacea/?hl=en Opwall webinars - https://www.opwall.com/free-webinar/ Opwall jobs - https://jobs.opwall.com/jobs/
In this episode of Wild Life Outdoors, Russell sits down with Dr. Reed Noss, one of the most influential conservation biologists of our time, for a deep conversation about biodiversity, public lands, and the future of wild places in America.Dr. Noss is widely known for his work on conservation biology, endangered species protection, and landscape scale preservation. In this conversation, we break down why biodiversity actually matters to hunters and anglers, how ecosystem collapse happens slowly and quietly, and why conservation decisions made today will shape access, opportunity, and wildlife populations for generations.We discuss the difference between preservation and conservation, how political pressure influences environmental policy, and why science is often ignored when it conflicts with short term economic interests. Dr. Noss also explains why public lands are critical not just for wildlife, but for clean water, resilient ecosystems, and outdoor recreation.This episode is not about fear or alarmism. It is about understanding reality, respecting science, and having honest conversations about what it means to be good stewards of the land. If you hunt, fish, hike, or care about the future of public lands, this is a conversation you need to hear.Learn More Here: https://conservation.dcp.ufl.edu/Sponsors:Bucked Up- https://bckd.co/vnjzgTkForetold Coffee Co.- https://www.foretoldcoffeeco.com00:00 Why biodiversity matters to everyday outdoorsmen01:30 Introduction to Dr. Reed Noss03:40 What conservation biology actually means06:10 How ecosystems collapse over time10:20 Why biodiversity loss affects hunting and fishing14:30 Preservation versus conservation explained18:50 The role of science in public lands decisions23:30 Political pressure and conservation outcomes28:10 Endangered species and habitat fragmentation32:45 What good stewardship really looks like36:30 Hopeful paths forward for conservation40:10 Final thoughts on responsibility and legacy#WildLifeOutdoors #ReedNoss #ConservationBiology #Biodiversity #BiodiversityLoss #PublicLands #PublicLandConservation #WildlifeConservation #WildlifeConservationScience #EndangeredSpeciesProtection #EcosystemHealth #EcosystemCollapse #EnvironmentalPolicy #ConservationPodcast #PublicLandsPodcast #OutdoorPodcast #OutdoorAdvocacyPodcast #HuntingAndConservation #FishingAndConservation #HuntersForConservation #AnglersForConservation #ScienceBasedConservation #ProtectPublicLands #WildlifeManagement #WildlifeManagementScience #ConservationScienceExplained #BiodiversityAndHunting
This week's Frankly is another edition of Nate's Wide Boundary News series, where he invites listeners to view the constant churn of headlines through a wider-boundary lens. Today's edition features reflections on renewable energy and CO2 emission trends, updates on species adaptability, and a discussion about nuclear treaties and Iran. Nate ties each topic to the larger story of the Great Simplification, updating listeners on what pathways might be available to pursue the long-term stability of humanity in the biosphere. What does ecological simplification teach us about resilience in human systems? When we celebrate "progress" in the form of rising renewable energy or flattening emissions, where might we be ignoring hidden system-level costs? And how has repeated exposure to "contained" geopolitical conflict changed our collective perception of risk, particularly in the West? (Recorded February 22nd, 2026) Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube --- Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie. Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Hylo channel and connect with other listeners
Oliver Dauert is the founder of Wildya, a consultancy helping nature NGOs and nature businesses grow their impact by getting better at marketing, sales, and personal branding. A Berlin native who wanted to be an elephant seal at age five, Oliver studied business specifically to understand how to change the systems driving the biodiversity crisis. After two years of pivots — from eco-anxiety coaching to corporate consulting — Wildya has found its focus helping the people already doing the work get more attention, more customers, and more resources.In this episode, Oliver and Tom discuss:The Jenga tower explanation of why biodiversity loss threatens everything we've built as a civilizationWhy Oliver chose business over marine biology — and whether he regrets itHow he built a community of tens of thousands on LinkedIn by being a messenger rather than a marketerThe business model behind Wildya, from free LinkedIn content to paid bootcamps and one-on-one consultingWhy the CSRD rollback and Trump's reelection killed his corporate pivot — and why the timing was just wrongWhat "rewilding your backyard" actually looks like, and the three steps any individual or business can take todayWhy biodiversity is a long-term business investment, not a cost — and how compounding returns apply to nature just as they do to capitalThe IUCN tool that shows you exactly what's threatening species within 50 kilometers of your homeThe butterfly that nested on his Berlin balcony and what it taught him about positive feedback loopsWhy personal branding isn't self-promotion — and why the messenger matters less than the messageResources mentioned:1% for the Planet directory: www.onepercentfortheplanet.orgIUCN Red List species threat tool: www.iucnredlist.orgWildya community: wildya.com
Trading Nature: Frontier markets, biodiversity credits with Drea BurbankHistorically trading has been a place of peace. Savimbo is a modern day ‘fair trade post' launching a frontier market where protectors of nature are valued and paid- fairly.Drea Burbank, CEO is co-founder of Savimbo, a climate finance social enterprise helping Indigenous Peoples and local communities access markets that value nature, like biodiversity and carbon, directly.Savimbo structures transparent, results based fair contracts that pay the people who actually protect forests. We talk about why many legacy systems -like REDD, have failed to deliver real conservation outcomes.This conversation offers a practical look at generative economics, Indigenous land rights, frontier markets that value nature, and the emerging vision of a solarpunk future.We explore:Biodiversity credits versus carbon creditsWhy voluntary carbon markets have failedIndigenous led conservationResults based nature finance Frontier markets and biodiversity creditsThe Ecological Benefits Framework for real world impact reportingColonial finance structures Rights of Nature Indigenous governance systemsSolarpunk as visionary thought-formHow businesses and consumers can support direct forest conservationAbout Drea BurbankDrea is a digital nomad, mostly in places where they grow bananas. She is the CEO of Savimbo, a social enterprise made by, and for, Indigenous Peoples and local communities to access climate markets directly. Her international team of 300+ delinquent savants hacks climate markets to support jungle smallfarmers and Indigenous groups who conserve and reforest. She's addicted to yoga, passionate about creation, and prone to profanity or poetry — sometimes both.Savimbo is a social enterprise made by, and for, Indigenous Peoples and local communities to access climate markets directly. We stop deforestation and sell six climate products biodiversity, carbon, tree, and water credits, ecotourism, and agrobiodiversity crops. Our charitable arm helps communities with land rights, literacy, and living conditions.
In this wide-ranging episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, host Anish Banerjee is joined by David Will from Island Conservation to explore why islands sit at the heart of the global biodiversity crisis—and why they also represent one of conservation's greatest sources of hope.Islands occupy a unique place in Earth's ecological history. Despite covering a tiny fraction of the planet's land area, they support a disproportionate share of global biodiversity, harbouring countless endemic species found nowhere else. David explains why island biodiversity hotspots are so extraordinary, but also why island wildlife is exceptionally vulnerable. Small land area, isolation, and simplified food webs mean that disturbances—especially invasive species and climate change—can trigger rapid ecological collapse. As a result, islands have experienced some of the highest extinction rates on Earth, making island biodiversity conservation one of the most urgent challenges in modern conservation.The conversation delves into the science and practice of island conservation, with a focus on restoring vulnerable ecosystems by removing invasive species such as rats, cats, and pigs. These introduced animals have driven widespread extinctions of seabirds, reptiles, and plants, fundamentally altering island ecology. David describes how removing invasive species can unlock extraordinary recovery, allowing native species to rebound within years and restoring ecological processes that had been suppressed for centuries.A central theme of the episode is the powerful connection between land and sea. David explains how island ecology cannot be understood in isolation from surrounding marine systems. Seabirds, once restored, transport nutrients from ocean to land, enriching forests and coastal soils, while also boosting coral reef health and fish biomass offshore. These cascading benefits highlight how island biodiversity conservation supports both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience and food security for island communities.Climate change looms large throughout the discussion. Rising sea levels, marine heatwaves, stronger storms, and shifting temperature regimes disproportionately affect islands, making them frontline indicators of global environmental change. David reflects on why climate change amplifies existing threats, and how biodiversity management on islands must integrate adaptation, biosecurity, and long-term monitoring to remain effective in an uncertain future.The episode also explores innovation in conservation, from drones and environmental DNA to cutting-edge genetic tools aimed at controlling invasive species more humanely and safely. These technologies are expanding what is possible for island conservation at scale, offering new pathways to protect some of the world's most fragile biodiversity hotspots.This conversation offers a compelling vision for the future of island conservation—one grounded in science, community leadership, and optimism. It is essential listening for anyone interested in island biodiversity, island wildlife, vulnerable ecosystems, climate change, and the role islands play in the global biodiversity conservation agenda.#Islandbiodiversity #islandconservation #islandbiodiversityconservation #islandwildlife #islandecology #biodiversity #biodiversityconservation #biodiversityhotspot #biodiversitymanagement #islandbiodiversityhotspot #vulnerableecosystems #climatechange Get full access to The Think Wildlife Podcast at anishbanerjee.substack.com/subscribe
Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Tulip Quest: A Valentine's Day Adventure at Keukenhof Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2026-02-17-08-38-20-nl Story Transcript:Nl: De lucht was koud en grijs toen de schoolbus stopte bij de Keukenhof.En: The air was cold and gray when the school bus stopped at the Keukenhof.Nl: Het was Valentijnsdag, en Maren keek naar buiten.En: It was Valentine's Day, and Maren looked outside.Nl: De kale bomen tekenden zich af tegen de lucht, terwijl de winterse bloemen kleur gaven aan de tuin.En: The bare trees stood out against the sky, while the winter flowers added color to the garden.Nl: Vandaag was de excursie over biodiversiteit, en Maren had een missie.En: Today was the biodiversity excursion, and Maren had a mission.Nl: Ze wilde de zeldzame wintertulp vinden waar haar oma altijd over sprak.En: She wanted to find the rare winter tulip that her grandmother always talked about.Nl: Joris stapte naast Maren uit de bus en zwaaide enthousiast.En: Joris got off the bus next to Maren and waved enthusiastically.Nl: Hij was altijd in voor een avontuur.En: He was always up for an adventure.Nl: "Kom op, Maren!En: "Come on, Maren!Nl: Laten we die tulp vinden!"En: Let's find that tulip!"Nl: Maren glimlachte, blij met zijn energie.En: Maren smiled, happy with his energy.Nl: Anouk, altijd georganiseerd, kwam naar hen toe met haar clipbord.En: Anouk, always organized, came to them with her clipboard.Nl: "Laten we dit goed aanpakken," zei ze.En: "Let's approach this properly," she said.Nl: "Het park is groot en koud.En: "The park is large and cold.Nl: We moeten goed plannen."En: We need to plan well."Nl: De drie begonnen hun zoektocht.En: The three began their search.Nl: Ze liepen langs paden met winterharde planten en bewonderden de weinige bloemen die bloeiden.En: They walked along paths with hardy plants and admired the few flowers that were blooming.Nl: De gids had verteld te blijven bij de groep, maar Maren wist dat ze weinig tijd had.En: The guide had mentioned to stay with the group, but Maren knew she had little time.Nl: "Ik denk dat ik weet waar de tulp zou kunnen zijn," zei Joris plotseling.En: "I think I know where the tulip might be," Joris suddenly said.Nl: "Volg me!"En: "Follow me!"Nl: Ze renden door de tuin, terwijl de wind om hen heen wervelde.En: They ran through the garden, with the wind swirling around them.Nl: Na een halfuur zoeken in de kou, zagen ze iets.En: After half an hour of searching in the cold, they saw something.Nl: Tussen de bladeren stond de tulp, stralend in zijn eenzame pracht.En: Among the leaves stood the tulip, radiant in its solitary splendor.Nl: "Daar is 'ie!"En: "There it is!"Nl: riep Maren blij.En: shouted Maren happily.Nl: Maar toen begon het zachtjes te sneeuwen, en ze beseften dat ze de klas kwijt waren.En: But then it began to snow lightly, and they realized they had lost the class.Nl: "Wat nu?"En: "What now?"Nl: vroeg Anouk, de eerste sporen van zorgen in haar stem.En: asked Anouk, the first traces of worry in her voice.Nl: "Blijf rustig," stelde Maren voor.En: "Stay calm," suggested Maren.Nl: "Laten we onze stappen volgen."En: "Let's trace our steps back."Nl: Ze keerden terug, stap voor stap.En: They returned, step by step.Nl: Gelukkig vond Joris het herkenningspunt waar ze langs waren gekomen.En: Luckily, Joris found the landmark they had passed by.Nl: Na een paar minuten zagen ze de klas.En: After a few minutes, they saw the class.Nl: Hun leraar stond klaar met een geamuseerde glimlach.En: Their teacher stood ready with an amused smile.Nl: "En, hebben jullie iets gevonden?"En: "So, did you find anything?"Nl: Maren en de anderen vertelden enthousiast over hun avontuur en lieten de foto van de tulip zien.En: Maren and the others enthusiastically recounted their adventure and showed the picture of the tulip.Nl: De klas juichte, en de leraar complimenteerde hen met hun initiatief.En: The class cheered, and the teacher complimented them on their initiative.Nl: Bij de bus terug, voelde Maren zich anders.En: Back at the bus, Maren felt different.Nl: Ze had niet alleen de mooie tulp gevonden, maar ze was ook gegroeid.En: She had not only found the beautiful tulip, but she had also grown.Nl: Ze was trots op haar samenwerking met Joris en Anouk.En: She was proud of her teamwork with Joris and Anouk.Nl: De dag in de Keukenhof eindigde met een warme chocolademelk in de bus.En: The day at the Keukenhof ended with a warm cup of hot chocolate on the bus.Nl: En terwijl de kinderen lachten en grapten, keek Maren naar buiten, voorbij de kale bomen.En: And while the children laughed and joked, Maren looked outside, past the bare trees.Nl: Ze wist dat ze verhalen zou hebben om met haar oma te delen.En: She knew she would have stories to share with her grandmother. Vocabulary Words:biodiversity: biodiversiteitexcursion: excursieadventure: avontuurenthusiastically: enthousiastorganized: georganiseerdclipboard: clipbordapproach: aanpakkenhardy: winterhardeguide: gidslandmark: herkenningspuntamused: geamuseerdeinitiative: initiatiefradiant: stralendsolitary: eenzaamsplendor: prachtenthusiastically recounted: enthousiast verteldentrace: sporencomplimented: complimenteerdebare: kalerealized: beseftengrown: gegroeidmission: missievalentine: Valentijnsexcursion: excursietulip: tulprare: zeldzamewinter: winterseworry: zorgencocoa: chocolademelkadmired: bewonderden
Multilateralism is the cornerstone of IPBES's work and its existence. Bringing its 150 member states together to share ideas, research and reports is the engine that drives it forward. This final episode in this series of ‘Nature Insight', covers IPBES's latest Plenary session which brought together government representatives, multilateral organizations and others. It also saw the launch of a landmark report on Business and Biodiversity. The ideas in that report as well as the importance of the gathering feature in interviews with Astrid Schomaker, (Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity) and Jim White (a consultant with the UK-based ‘Nature Positive Initiative'). To find out more about IPBES, go to www.ipbes.net or follow us on social media @IPBES
Glaciers are vital to Earth's water supplies, yet they are being pushed to the brink of collapse. Half of the world's glaciers could disappear by the end of the century. A French mountain climber is putting her experience to use by helping scientists collect ice samples from major glaciers around the world. Living and dormant species found within them could provide vital clues in the fight against global warming. FRANCE 24's Juliette Alfano, Valérie Dekimpe and Alexandra Renard report.
In this episode, our guest is Karl Nolles, an energy economist and former system control operator with experience spanning academia, banking, and government. Karl shares lessons from early carbon markets, integrating solar and batteries into isolated grids, and the technical realities of synthetic inertia and system stability. We discuss policy intervention, regulatory risk, behind-the-meter optimisation, and the growing energy demands of AI and data centers. The conversation concludes with a deep dive into biodiversity credit markets and the land-use impacts of large-scale solar, including why renewable expansion is creating significant demand for conservation offsets. Please join to find more. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: Facebook @sohailhasnie X (Twitter) @shasnie LinkedIn @shasnie ADB Blog Sohail Hasnie YouTube @energypreneurs Instagram @energypreneurs Tiktok @energypreneurs
What are the "rules" of biodiversity? How do ecology and evolution interact? These are questions that biologist Hanna Kokko is a renowned expert on, and in this episode of "Weird Species" she shares her immense knowledge on these topics. And of course, she talks about her favorite species as well: Apus apus, the common swift, which is very much not a swallow! Want to know where exactly the difference lies? Then join us for this episode! Follow Senckenberg onFacebookInstagramTikTokLinkedInYouTube
Ellen Kamhi, The Natural Nurse, talks with Angela Manno who studied at the San Francisco Art Institute, Parsons School of Design, and l'Ecole des Arts in Lacoste, France, through Sarah Lawrence College. Her work has been exhibited around the world, including by NASA, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She also collaborates with the Center for Biological Diversity on its endangered species programs. She presents each threatened species in a traditionally religious form—the icon—to illustrate its intrinsic value and true significance. www.angelamanno.com
In this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, host Anish Banerjee is joined by Nishan Limbu, Tujin Rai, and Nischal Kunwar from the Nature Conservation and Study Centre for a wide-ranging conversation on youth-led wildlife conservation and biodiversity research in Nepal's Himalayan landscapes.Rather than focusing on a single species, this episode explores how grassroots conservation initiatives in Nepal are addressing the needs of multiple threatened taxa, including the Asiatic Black Bear, pangolins, small carnivores, pollinators, turtles, and forest-dependent mammals. Together, these species represent the ecological complexity of Nepal's biodiversity hotspot, where conservation challenges are deeply intertwined with community livelihoods, land-use change, and human–wildlife interactions.A major part of the discussion centres on the Asiatic Black Bear, a wide-ranging species increasingly coming into conflict with people in Nepal's mid-hills and forested regions. The guests describe how bear conservation efforts combine camera trapping, rapid biodiversity assessments, and community interviews to identify key habitats and conflict zones. These methods are part of a broader conservation research framework that prioritizes coexistence and evidence-based wildlife conservation rather than enforcement-only approaches.The conversation then expands to other species under threat. Pangolins emerge as one of the most elusive and heavily trafficked mammals in the region, requiring both biodiversity research and strong community engagement to improve detection and protection. Small carnivores and lesser-known mammals are discussed as overlooked components of biodiversity conservation, despite their critical ecological roles. The episode also highlights pollinator conservation through citizen-science initiatives, demonstrating how biodiversity research can be democratized and scaled through local participation.Across all these projects, the Nature Conservation and Study Centre's approach emphasizes capacity building, youth leadership, and community ownership. By training community forest user groups to deploy camera traps, monitor wildlife, and interpret results, the organization is helping shift conservation from externally driven projects to locally sustained action. This model strengthens biodiversity conservation outcomes while fostering long-term stewardship in Nepal's rural landscapes.The guests also reflect candidly on the challenges faced by early-career conservationists, including limited funding, lack of training opportunities, and resistance from communities affected by human–wildlife conflict. Yet the episode remains hopeful, showing how collaboration, persistence, and grounded conservation research can generate meaningful change.This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in bear conservation, Asiatic Black Bears, pangolins, wildlife conservation, biodiversity research, and the future of youth-led conservation in Nepal and the Himalayas. It offers a holistic view of how protecting biodiversity requires working across species, ecosystems, and communities simultaneously.#bear #bearconservation #AsiaticBlackBear #conservation #wildlifeconservation #biodiversityhotspot #conservationresearch #biodiversityresearch #biodiversityconservation #biodiversity #communitybasedconservation #communityconservation Get full access to The Think Wildlife Podcast at anishbanerjee.substack.com/subscribe
On a recent trip to Lake Geneva in Switzerland, biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston witnessed the impact of one of the planet's most potent invasive species, the quagga mussel. In just a decade the mollusc, originally from the Ponto-Caspian region of the Black Sea, has caused irreversible change beneath the surface of the picturesque lake. While ecologists believe invasive species play a major role in more than 60% of plant and animal extinctions, stopping them in their tracks is almost impossible. Phoebe tells Madeleine Finlay how invasive species spread, how conservationists are trying combat them and why some think a radical new approach is needed.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
How the Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon is combining science, education and community action to keep the forest standing, with Johana Reyes.If you've ever wondered what a sustainable Amazon looks like in practice – how local livelihoods, science and education can work together to protect one of the most biodiverse places on Earth – this episode is for you.Today's guest is Johana Reyes, Founding Member and President of the Board for the Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon. Johana joins us from the south‑eastern Peruvian Amazon – a region rich in Brazil nut forests, scarlet macaws and community‑led conservation.We unpack the Alliance's mission and model – from long‑term biological research and reforestation with local families to education programmes that connect children and students directly with the forest.Johana shares what life is really like leading a small, field‑based team in the Amazon, the insights her work is revealing, and practical ways that you can get involved through internships, volunteering and research placements.Whether you're a student, career switcher or professional looking to make a greater impact, you'll come away with grounded career advice – from experimenting early and translating your skills, to building confidence through hands‑on experience.It's a field‑based, hopeful, and practical episode. Enjoy.Join CC - www.conservation-careers.com/joinASA - www.sustainableamazon.org
SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing
What happens when sustainability strategies fail to address real climate risk and long-term investment outcomes?In this episode of SRI360, I am speaking with Laura Ortiz Montemayor about impact investing, climate risk, and regenerative finance, and why sustainability alone may no longer be enough for investors focused on long-term value creation.Drawing from Laura's experience in traditional finance and her work building regenerative investment strategies in Latin America, the conversation explores how capital allocation shapes systems, and why rethinking how capital is deployed matters as much as where it flows.The conversation is especially relevant for investors navigating climate finance, nature risk, and sustainable investing in emerging markets.We talk about:the difference between sustainability and regeneration in impact investingwhy changing what we invest in isn't enough without changing how capital is deployedhow capital shapes systems, and risk, over timewhat regenerative finance looks like for investors focused on long-term outcomesFeatured guest: Laura Ortiz Montemayor, founder of SVX México and Managing Partner of Regenera VenturesListen Next: Conversation with Helen Avery, Director of Nature Programs at the Green Finance Institute (GFI)Discover More from SRI360°:Explore all episodes of the SRI360° Podcast Sign up for the free weekly email update
Clare Local Development Company is launching a free Citizen Science Biodiversity webinar series for January and February 2026, helping people learn how to observe, record and protect local wildlife and habitats — no experience needed at all. On Thursday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined by Deirdre Morrissey, LEADER Development Officer with Clare Local Development Company, and Rachel Dowling, ecologist with Nature Network Ireland, who are leading the programme. Photo (c) Clare Local Development Company LinkedIn
While there is a growing recognition of the importance of indigenous knowledge in agriculture, all too-often, First Nations people are being asked to fit in with an established model. What if we flipped the script to create food systems that are led by indigenous principles?That's what Jacob Birch is aiming to do in reawakening a native grains industry in Australia. He's a proud Gamilaraay man, scholar, Churchill Fellow, and entrepreneur who founded Yaamarra & Yarral, a wholesaler of ancient grains and retailer of stone milled flour.In this episode, Jacob shares his journey into native grains, beginning with biodiversity and landscape restoration, and expanding into food, culture, and economic sovereignty. He explains why native grasses are keystone species for Australia's ecosystems, how Indigenous Australians managed grain systems for tens of thousands of years, and why these histories, including bread-making, are still largely absent from mainstream narratives.In his Churchill Fellowship, Jacob draws on lessons from First Nations communities in North America, exploring what Indigenous-led food systems can look like when the goal is not export-driven scale, but healthy communities, country, and self-determined economic development.Sarah and Jacob discuss:The nutritional value of native grains and their role in climate resilience and food sovereignty.Why post–farm gate ownership is crucial for First Nations people.How subsidies could potentially support indigenous-led enterprises in food and agriculture.The realities of building a native grains industry; from land access to challenges in processing.Useful Links:Jacob Birch, Churchill Fellowship reportGrasslands Documentary Jacob Birch researcher profileModernising Indigenous Native Grains Processing | AgriFutures AustraliaWhite Earth NationFond du Lac Band of Lake Superior ChippewaNative Farm Bill CoalitionTribal Elder Food Box - Feeding America Eastern WisconsinFirst Nations Australians in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - DAFF2030 Roadmap - National Farmers' FederationFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.
Ep #41 - Kerry Hughes "Ethnobotany is the study of the relationship between humans and plants." - Kerry Hughes Meet Kerry Hughes, ethnobotanist and author, and an inspiring member of Nootropics Depot's scientific advisory board. Kerry joins the podcast to discuss her background and passions as an ethnobotanist, and to share practical tips for connecting with the healing power of plants in our everyday lives, through supplements, food, incense, and spending time in nature. Chapters 0:00 Introducing Kerry Hughes, Ethnobotanist 1:17 What is an Ethnobotanist? 3:08 Taking Erinamax, Tiger Milk + Cognance from the ND Catalogue 4:21 Popping Pills - Ethnobotany style 5:55 Effectiveness of Quick-Dissolve Cognance vs. Cognizance capsules 10:14 The Lack of Bitter Compounds in Our Foods 12:18 Bitter Sensors in Our Digestive Tract 18:03 Madronho 20:41 Herbaviore23:30 Bitter Compounds Regulate Blood Sugar - GLP1 Agonism 25:35 Biodiversity - We Don't Save What We Don't Value 27:45 California - LA Fires, Climate Crisis, Land Management 28:13 Cattle Grass 31:38 Gulf of Mexico - Hating on Swamps 35:25 Rewilding 37:05 Effects of Erinamax and Cognance 38:15 Experiential Accounts of Supplements 44:50 Being Mindful of Safety with Extracts - Purity 46:17 The Dose is the Poison 51:25 What's In Your Garden? 51:45 The Squarest Ethnobotanist You'll Ever Meet 55:55 Biodiversity 58:40 Regenerative Certification 1:01:55 Natural Wineries 1:02:17 Wild Yeast in Geuze and Lambiek 1:03:42 Plants are Sentient Beings 1:05:15 A World without Opiates 1:07:25 Use of plants, music, nature 1:10:25 Connection - Essential for Human Health
The Real Truth About Health Free 17 Day Live Online Conference Podcast
Gerard and Julian explore forest restoration, plant-based diets, and metrics like the Human Survival Index to track global risk. #CarbonDrawdown #Rewilding #FoodSystemReform #SustainableLiving
In this episode Dr. Oskar Brattstrom and undergraduate students Bridget Nielsen and Katie Mulholland speak with Naturally Speaking’s Anders Erlandson, Caroline Sharp and Taya Forde about some of the aspects of the Ecology and Conservation of African Ecosystems field course. This is a final year option offered as part of the School of Biodiversity, One […]
CapeNature, the Western Cape agency tasked with protecting its nature reserves, is confronting two threats: destructive summer wildfires and a surge in wildlife crime as international syndicates target everything from abalone to rare succulents and reptiles. In one case, a 126 kg shipment of succulents was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport. In an interview with BizNews, Pierre de Villiers, CapeNature's Senior Manager for Marine and Coastal Operations, outlines the scale of the crisis. He says that succulents now fetch prices that rival rhino horn and explains how a coordinated, intelligence-led enforcement model, drawing in the Police, private sector partners and local communities and the navy, is beginning to turn the tide in the Overberg.
There is an insane amount of money being thrown around by international organizations and agreements. Nobody with any kind of power over these agreements is asking basic EA questions like: "What are the problems we're trying to solve?" "What are the most neglected aspects of those problems?" and "What is the most cost-effective way to address those neglected areas?" As someone coming from an EA background reading through plans for $200-700 billion in annual funding commitments that focus on unimaginative and ineffective interventions, it makes you want to tear your hair out. So much good could be done with that money. EA focuses a lot on private philanthropy, earning-to-give (though less so post-SBF), and the usual pots of money. But why don't we have delegations who are knowledgeable in international diplomacy going to COPs and advocating for more investment in lab-grown meat, alternative proteins, or lithium recycling? It seems like there would be insane alpha in such a strategy. An example: The Global Biodiversity Framework The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted in 2022 to halt biodiversity loss. It has 23 targets, commitments of $200 billion annually by 2030 and $700 billion by 2050, and near-universal adoption from [...] ---Outline:(01:12) An example: The Global Biodiversity Framework(02:13) What Is That Money Actually Being Spent On?(03:02) The Elephant in the Room Literally Nobody is Talking About: Beef(04:21) The Absolutely Insane Funding Gap(05:26) The Leverage Point Were Ignoring(06:47) What Would EA Engagement Look Like? --- First published: January 20th, 2026 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Peaq4HNhn8agsZY3z/why-isn-t-ea-at-the-table-when-usd121-billion-gets-allocated --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.
I sat down with Enrico Rivetto (biodynamic winemaker in Barolo) and Stefano Lorenzi (arborist and manager at Castello di Grumello winery) to explore a growing movement in vineyard farming: vitiforestry (agroforestry in the vines). We break down why growers are bringing trees back into vineyards, what problems they're trying to solve, and what a “more diverse” vineyard actually looks like in practice. We also dig into the practical questions growers worry about most: choosing the right species, managing wild animals, disease risk, and whether trees get in the way of mechanization. Finally, we look at how you measure if it's working, what the real trade-offs are, and whether agroforestry could be a blueprint for other monocultures too.Enrico's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivetto_wines/Stefano's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlorenzi72/Castello di Grumello Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/castellodigrumello/Stefano's arborist website: https://www.arboricoltorestefanolorenzi.it/Rivetto winery website: https://www.rivetto.it/You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast and 'Talk Under the VVine' episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:
The annual value of industries highly dependent on nature amounts to15% of the global GDP, yet the benefits nature provides to businesses, as well as the impact of businesses on nature, are largely overlooked. This episode explores the business advantages of biodiversity conservation, and how companies can incorporate biodiversity as a core component of their sustainability strategies. It also looks ahead to the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Report which is due to be published in February 2026. The report's co-authors, Matt Jones, (Chief Impact Officer at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre), and Ximena Rueada (an Associate Professor at the School of Management at Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia) both feature in the episode. To find out more about IPBES, go to www.ipbes.net or follow us on social media @IPBES
We are joined by environmental historian Dr Ian Maclellan as we wind the clock back through Scotland's long history of land use change: from the ice age to the Romans, clearances, industrialisation and modern pressures. Along the way, we unpack how humans have been part of the landscape – managing it for food, livelihoods and leisure, and the consequences this has had on nature and biodiversity.Scotland's landscapes are often seen as wild and timeless, but people and the land have shaped one another over thousands of years. We discuss this and how understanding yesterday can help us make better decisions for the future. Challenging us to have more nuanced, informed conversations about land restoration and management today - recognising complexity, positive outcomes, unintended consequences, and the realities of climate, culture and history.Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn BlackwoodTimestamps:1:25 – 13:38 Introductions and high-level walkthrough of Scotland's natural history13:38 – 31:00 Management of land and our relationships with it31:00 – 43:55 Our perceptions and misconceptions of the land and challenges for the future43:55 – end. Final comments and where to get more infoRelated FAS resourcesNatural Capital: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/Other Related ResourcesProf T C Smout: Nature Contested Environmental History in Scotland and Northern England since 1600: https://www.nhbs.com/nature-contested-bookUniversity of Stirling Environmental History and Heritage: https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/arts-humanities/history-politics/history-research/environmental-history-and-heritage/Prof R Oram: Where Men No More May Reap Or Sow: The Little Ice Age: Scotland 1400–1850: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/where-men-no-more-may-reap-or-sow/Ichnos Heritage: https://ichnosheritage.com/
Leila Philip describes observing a local beaver pond, noting how these animals create wetlands that act as the "coral reefs of North America" by supporting immense biodiversity. She also recounts the Algonquin legend of the Great Beaver, a story that explains geological formations while serving as an environmental parable against resource hoarding and greed.
Dr Debbie Saunders is a Conservation Ecologist & Nature-Tech Innovation Dr Debbie Saunders has a PhD in Conservation Ecology from the Australian National University and over 20 years experience translating biodiversity conservation research into innovative nature-tech and large-scale ecosystem restoration projects. Dr Saunders is the co-founder and CEO of two innovative conservation technology companies (NatureHelm and Wildlife Drones) with a focus on scaling up biodiversity conservation and monitoring wildlife and ecosystems globally in ways that were not previously possible. She has experience across the environment sector, working as a private environmental consultant, government threatened species manager and a researcher and conservation project manager within academia, as well as collaborating extensively with environmental NGOs. Her extensive research has focused on improving conservation of migratory species and their habitats across vast landscapes, providing the inspiration for establishing innovative technology to help address knowledge and capability gaps. Over the past nine years she has led the development and deployment of some of the world's most advanced conservation technologies for enhancing the monitoring and management of ecosystems and species across 15 countries. She has also led her business to win multiple business sustainability and innovation awards for her creative solutions for challenging ecosystem conservation problems, including Australia's National Telstra Best of Business Award for Promoting Sustainability.Welcome to Nature Magic It is lovely to kick off 2026 with this fascinating conversation with Dr Debbie Saunders showing how tech can create solutions for solving complex questions in nature conservation. Debbie is is co founder of Nature Helm and Wild life drones used globally to assess ecosystems over vast habitats and down to the smallest species. Her innovations have won many major awards including Australias National Telstra best of business award for Sustainability. She explains how tech is the answer to reversing the biodiversity emergency by visualising the reality in a way that humans can understand instantly to release funds to create actual positive change.debbie@naturehelm.com
Bringing more diversity onto the farm with crop rotation and cover crops sounds nice, but is it actually achieving better results for farmers?
Fluent Fiction - Italian: Blending History and Nature: A Winter's Tale in Borghese Gardens Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-01-22-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Gli alberi antichi dei Giardini di Villa Borghese a Roma erano avvolti in un delicato manto di neve.En: The ancient trees of the Giardini di Villa Borghese in Roma were wrapped in a delicate mantle of snow.It: Era inverno e l'aria era frizzante e calma.En: It was winter, and the air was brisk and calm.It: Le sculture classiche sembravano più solenni sotto la coperta bianca, mentre piccoli accenni di verde facevano sperare nella rinascita del giardino.En: The classical sculptures seemed more solemn under the white cover, while small hints of green gave hope for the garden's rebirth.It: Luca, appassionato designer del paesaggio, camminava tra i sentieri.En: Luca, an impassioned landscape designer, walked among the paths.It: Gli piaceva immaginare come quei giardini dovessero apparire secoli fa.En: He liked to imagine how those gardens must have appeared centuries ago.It: Al suo fianco, Giulia esaminava con attenzione le piante.En: Beside him, Giulia carefully examined the plants.It: Lei era una botanica esperta, con un cuore per la biodiversità.En: She was an expert botanist, with a passion for biodiversity.It: Aveva grandi progetti per il giardino, sognava un angolo dove nuove specie potessero prosperare.En: She had grand plans for the garden and dreamed of a corner where new species could thrive.It: Ma per Luca, il fascino stava nel mantenere intatta la storia del luogo.En: But for Luca, the charm lay in preserving the place's history intact.It: "Sai, pensavo di piantare nuove specie qui," disse Giulia fermandosi davanti a un'aiuola spoglia.En: "You know, I was thinking of planting new species here," said Giulia, stopping in front of a bare flowerbed.It: "Porterebbero nuovo vigore al giardino."En: "They would bring new vigor to the garden."It: Luca annuì, ma era incerto.En: Luca nodded but was unsure.It: "La storia è importante, Giulia.En: "History is important, Giulia.It: Non dobbiamo cambiarla."En: We must not change it."It: La neve cadeva piano, coprendo i loro passi.En: The snow fell gently, covering their footsteps.It: Sebbene avessero opinioni diverse, entrambi sapevano che un equilibrio era possibile.En: Although they had different opinions, both knew that a balance was possible.It: Luca rifletté: forse poteva cedere un piccolo spazio al progetto di Giulia.En: Luca reflected: perhaps he could yield a small space to Giulia's project.It: Pensava ai nuovi turisti che avrebbero apprezzato un tocco di novità.En: He thought about new tourists who would appreciate a touch of novelty.It: "Hai ragione," disse alla fine Luca.En: "You're right," Luca finally said.It: "Potremmo usare quest'angolo.En: "We could use this corner.It: Così, tu sperimenti nuove piante e io proteggo le parti storiche."En: That way, you can experiment with new plants, and I protect the historical parts."It: Giulia sorrise, apprezzando il compromesso.En: Giulia smiled, appreciating the compromise.It: Lavorarono insieme per giorni, mescolando vecchio e nuovo in una danza armoniosa di storia e natura.En: They worked together for days, blending old and new in a harmonious dance of history and nature.It: Poi, una notte, una nevicata improvvisa cadde sul giardino.En: Then, one night, a sudden snowfall fell on the garden.It: I due corsero fuori alle prime luci dell'alba.En: The two rushed outside at dawn.It: I rami appesantiti dalla neve minacciavano le piante, sia quelle antiche che le nuove.En: The branches, heavy with snow, threatened both the ancient and the new plants.It: Senza esitare, Luca e Giulia univano le forze.En: Without hesitation, Luca and Giulia joined forces.It: Lavorarono senza sosta, spolverando neve dai rami e coprendo le piante più delicate con teli.En: They worked tirelessly, brushing snow from branches and covering the most delicate plants with tarps.It: Riuscirono a proteggere ogni angolo del giardino.En: They managed to protect every corner of the garden.It: Con il cuore in gola, si fermarono un momento ad ammirare il loro lavoro.En: With their hearts in their throats, they paused for a moment to admire their work.It: La neve ormai rallentava, e il giardino brillava sotto i primi raggi del sole.En: The snow had slowed by now, and the garden sparkled under the first rays of the sun.It: "Luca," disse Giulia, "insieme abbiamo fatto un buon lavoro."En: "Luca," said Giulia, "together we've done a good job."It: "E tu mi hai insegnato ad accettare il cambiamento," aggiunse Luca.En: "And you taught me to accept change," added Luca.It: Ora, entrambi vedevano il giardino con occhi nuovi, come un libro aperto dove il passato e il presente scrivevano insieme nuove storie.En: Now, both saw the garden with new eyes, like an open book where the past and present together wrote new stories.It: Diventarono un team affiatato, realizzando che solo attraverso la collaborazione il giardino poteva veramente risplendere, celebrando storia e modernità.En: They became a closely-knit team, realizing that only through collaboration could the garden truly shine, celebrating history and modernity.It: E i Giardini di Villa Borghese, con la loro nuova anima, continuarono a incantare i visitatori, stagione dopo stagione.En: And the Giardini di Villa Borghese, with their renewed spirit, continued to enchant visitors, season after season. Vocabulary Words:the branches: i ramithe snow: la nevethe mantle: il mantothe sculptures: le sculturethe compromise: il compromessothe landscape designer: il designer del paesaggiothe biodiversity: la biodiversitàthe collapse: il crollobrisk: frizzanteto yield: cedereto thrive: prosperarethe rebirth: la rinascitadelicate: delicatothe tarps: i telithe novelty: la novitàintact: intattathe balance: l'equilibrioto hesitate: esitareto appreciate: apprezzareto cover: ricoprirethe footsteps: i passithe sunrise: l'albato blend: mescolarethe spirits: gli spiritithe garden: il giardinothe dance: la danzathe vigor: il vigorethe event: l'eventothe harmony: l'armoniaancient: antico
“First we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us.” - Winston Churchill (attributed)The natural world is humanity's original habitat. This habitat supports our physiological energy efficiency and is an important health intervention for the AEC industry. These are core perspectives that Helena van Vliet shares in this joint PHA-Building Science Podcast interview. Helena makes the clear case that we are “open systems” - we take in our environments, both physically and with our perceptions. Whether outdoors or indoors, our physical selves have their own experience of each environment we inhabit. This experience first informs our bodies, which have their own reactions of ease or dis-ease; and next, seemingly at the same time, this experience then informs our minds and our psychological reality comes to life. This interview is yet another beacon guiding us to deeply rethink how we deliver indoor spaces to ourselves. Enjoy the nourishing feast of ideas here!Helena van VlietHelena van Vliet Dipl.-Ing. AIA is an internationally recognized expert in Biophilic Design. She is a registered Architect, Consultant, Researcher, Educator, and Speaker focusing on the direct connections between human and bio-habitat resilience in built environments. In her designs, consulting work and teaching, she integrates insights from her 40 years of practice, as well as data from her ongoing research in evolutionary biology, cognitive neuroscience, biopsychology, and chronobiology. Helenais the Principal at Helena van Vliet LLC, as well as a founding member of BioPhilly. Since 2013, she has served as a Steering Committee Member for the International Biophilic Cities Network.Since 2018, Helena has taught her interdisciplinary seminar “Environments for Well-Being” at Thomas Jefferson University, bringing together design and health science students to explore the building blocks - and underlying science - of spaces that support well-being. She is a frequent lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, Widener, the Bauhaus University Weimar, Germany, and the Politecnico di Milano, Italy.Ilka CassidyIlka Cassidy, Dipl.-Ing. Architecture, CPHC, is the co-founder of C2 Architecture and Holzraum System, with a deep passion for Passive House envelope design and building science. She focuses on the benefits of using natural building materials and specializes in offsite construction.With extensive experience in Passive House consulting and energy modeling, Ilka has a strong understanding of energy efficiency strategies. As a co-founder of C2 Architecture, she brought a sustainable design perspective to the firm from its inception. Through Holzraum System, she has worked to merge the precision and scalability of prefabrication with the use of healthy, low-carbon materials, all while optimizing energy efficiency with Passive House principles.Ilka is also committed to expanding knowledge in the industry, serving as co-host of the Passive House Accelerator Podcast and Construction Tech Live events. She is a frequent conference speaker and an active member of Green Building United in Philadelphia. She is a proud mom for her three girls and a visiting educator and McGill University. TeamHosted by Kristof IrwinEdited by Nico MignardiProduced by M. Walker
As we gear up to launch another season of incredible guest interviews we're revisiting a few of our most beloved episodes, starting with the fabulous Doug Tallamy.Over the course of his career, Doug has become a leading voice helping people understand why native plants matter and how simple and accessible it can be to support biodiversity right in your backyard. In this conversation, we talk about the power of keystone species, the remarkable progress he's made restoring native plants on his own Pennsylvania property, and the nonprofit he founded to inspire private landowners to be part of this growing movement.Dr. Tallamy has an incredible gift for breaking down big, complex environmental challenges into ideas that feel approachable rather than overwhelming, offering practical, common-sense ways to make a real and meaningful impact.Doug Tallamy is the T.A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, and the author of more than 100 publications, including Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, Nature's Best Hope, and his most recent book, The Nature of Oaks.Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers
In this episode of The Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy and Kristof Irwin discuss with Helena van Vliet the concept of biophilic design and its impact on human wellbeing. Helena explains how designing environments that reconnect humans with nature can optimize physiological energy and reduce stress and inflammation. The conversation delves into practical applications of biophilic design in urban environments, exploring how elements like dynamic sunlight, water features, and vegetation can improve health and connect people with natural surroundings. The episode also touches on the challenges of integrating these concepts with traditional architectural practices focused on energy efficiency and durability.Helena van Vliet Dipl.-Ing. AIA is an internationally recognized expert in Biophilic Design. She is a registered Architect, Consultant, Researcher, Educator, and Speaker focusing on the direct connections between human and bio-habitat resilience in built environments. In her designs, consulting work and teaching, she integrates insights from her 40 years of practice, as well as data from her ongoing research in evolutionary biology, cognitive neuroscience, biopsychology, and chronobiology.https://www.helenavanvliet.com/https://www.biophilly.org/https://www.biophiliccities.org/Thank you for listening to the Passive House Podcast! To learn more about Passive House and to stay abreast of our latest programming, visit passivehouseaccelerator.com. And please join us at one of our Passive House Accelerator LIVE! zoom gatherings on Wednesdays.
Originally recorded in 2019, Patagonia's Vincent Stanley joins host Ryan Honeyman (for part two of a four part series) to explore how a small dirtbag climbing company became a global business in service of “saving our home planet.” They dig into Patagonia's culture, the Bears Ears lawsuit and benefit corporation status, tools for grassroots activists, and what it really means for businesses to take public stands on policy, democracy, and public lands. Vincent also reflects on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the deep links between racism and environmental destruction, and why biodiversity loss may be the defining ecological crisis of our time.View the show notes: https://go.lifteconomy.com/blog/patagonia-case-study-2-of-4-cultureCertifying as a B Corp is only the beginning. Our free B Corp Values Assessment helps you see where values are holding and where they're under pressure. lifteconomy.com/values
This week, Conrad had the pleasure of speaking with his good friend, Natalie Ritter. Natalie is currently pursuing her master's degree in Marine and Environmental Science at the University of the Virgin Islands. Her research focuses on the biodiversity and taxonomy of Apicomplexan blood parasites that infect coral reef fishes. They speak on accessibility of scientific information and the benefit of a variety of different media types to spread awareness. Takeaway: Everything is connected. #reefish #parasites #virginislands
Bioacoustics is pretty niche, but now thanks to AI, it could turbocharge biodiversity research. Michel André calls it “the science of the sound of life.” In this episode, we hear his recordings from the mysterious waters of Antarctica and the life-giving wetlands of the Amazon. He also explains why bioacoustics could hold the key to survival on the planet. Plus, a behind the scenes chat.
Zainab Salbi joins Next Economy Now to share her remarkable journey from founding Women for Women International to launching Daughters for Earth, a movement uplifting women-led climate solutions across the globe. She discusses the moral crisis of war, the urgency of biodiversity protection, and the unique contributions women bring to climate restoration. This episode explores the Hummingbird Effect and how each of us can play a meaningful role in healing our planet.View the show notes: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/2026/1/13/earth-war-and-the-path-toward-regeneration-w-zainab-salbiEarly bird registration is now open for the spring 2026 cohort of The Next Economy MBA, a nine-month facilitated learning journey for people building a more just and regenerative economy. Save 20 percent if you sign up before February 2. Learn more at lifteconomy.com/mba.
Is it possible to balance the needs of people with nature in our “concrete jungles”? That is the question under scrutiny in this episode of ‘Nature Insight'. As the global population becomes ever more urbanized and cities are growing at an unprecedented rate - particularly in the developing world - Rob Spaull and Brit Garner hear what needs to be done to protect nature in these built up environments. Brit and Rob hear from Loan Diep who is the Assistant Director of The Urban Systems Lab, an interdisciplinary research, design and practice space at New York University, and Carolina Figueroa, the director of SELVAR, a think and ‘do' tank based in Colombia. To find out more about IPBES, go to www.ipbes.net or follow us on social media @IPBES
Today's episode is produced in partnership with the Global Challenges Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of global catastrophic risks and strengthening global governance to address them. Global Challenges Foundation's 2026 Global Catastrophic Risks report outlines five of the biggest risks facing humanity today, including ecological collapse, the topic of this episode. You can find this report at globalchallenges.org/gcr-2026. Two of the authors of the chapter on ecological collapse are my guests today. David Obura is the director of CORDIO East Africa, a nonprofit research organization based in Kenya, and chair of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Eva Mineur is head of climate and sustainability at Global Challenges Foundation. We kick off by discussing what we mean by ecological collapse and examining examples of this phenomenon already underway around the world, before turning to a longer conversation about how to strengthen international cooperation and global governance to prevent ecological collapse—and the catastrophe it would entail.
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani author, nutritionist and Professor Emerita Marion Nestle about her new book, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters. They talk about the problem with ultra-processed foods, the rise of dynamic pricing, and how eaters can navigate the thousands of options in grocery stores. Plus, hear about the funding shortfall to conserve biodiversity, a leading science journal's retraction of a study on glyphosate safety, a new regenerative agriculture pilot, and more. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg" wherever you consume your podcasts.