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Five years after provincial government commitments to protect old growth, the new report commissioned by Sierra Club BC concludes that the ecological integrity of our forests continues to decline, threatening biodiversity, First Nations values and a diverse economy. We speak with Karen Price, an ecologist who co-authored the report.
In order to save and more importantly restore biodiversity we don't need biodiversity or carbon credits; we need biologists to find super profitable business models within the magical deeply complex world of nature. It's the case of Toby Parkes, founder and CEO of Rhizocore, with whom go deep into the third, mostly ignored, and much more complex kingdom: fungi. We talk numbers that matter to forest managers: commercial sites often lose 15–25% of trees in year one, native mixes 35–50%. Across 70+ sites, Rhizocore's locally sourced pellets consistently cut losses in half and add roughly 20% in height and girth, with outsized benefits under drought. We also explore the bigger vision: a frozen library of hundreds of strains that powers not only forestry but new lines like nutrient capture from farm runoff and wastewater. Think high-throughput screening for fungi that strip nitrates and phosphates fast, plus future prospects for enzymes and therapeutics- practical ways to put ecology on the balance sheet.More about this episode.==========================In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.==========================
Have you ever wondered what it would look like to invest in nature in a way that grows both your wealth and the planet?This episode invites you to rethink how you view money, assets, and long-term legacy by exploring the emerging world of regenerative investments. Instead of seeing land and forests as distant resources, this conversation reframes them as living assets capable of creating generational wealth, environmental healing, and financial inclusion.Alain Romero is the founder of Forest to Fortune, a regenerative investment company that re-imagines how high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and purpose-driven investors can align profit, planet, and people. Alain combines deep financial acumen with impact forestry strategy, using high-value tropical hardwoods, agroforestry systems, and innovative fintech to deliver long-term wealth and environmental regeneration.Tune in to Episode 257 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, as Jackie sits down with Alain Romero, founder of Forest to Fortune, to explore his groundbreaking approach to investing in trees, biodiversity, and regenerative ecosystems. Alain shares how treating trees as individual assets can open new avenues for wealth creation, how blockchain brings transparency to environmental investing, and why degraded land across Latin America holds massive potential for restoration and long-term financial returns. This episode is a powerful reminder that the future of wealth is sustainable, intentional, and deeply connected to the earth.Key Takeaways: ✨ Trees can function as long-term financial assets ✨ Regeneration creates both environmental and economic value ✨ Biodiversity may become the world's most valuable resource ✨ Blockchain brings transparency to environmental investing ✨ Degraded land can be restored into thriving ecosystems ✨ Wealth and impact can grow side by sideConnect with Alain Romero:Forests To Fortune websiteinstagramLet's Connect!WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInJackie Tapia Arbonne websiteBuy The Amiga Way's Book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode I sit down with Lis Long, founder of Apron, to explore how a forgotten patch of land in Buckingham Park became a thriving community garden – and how that small beginning has grown into an ambitious plan for a regenerative community farm in Lancing. Lis shares the story behind Apron, from the early pop-up craft sessions to building a garden from reclaimed materials during lockdown. We talk about food growing, heritage fruit trees, nature school, biodiversity, and the surprising power of small green spaces to rebuild confidence, connection and community. We also discuss Apron's next chapter – four acres of former equestrian land that Lis and her volunteers are turning into a space for wetland restoration, heritage craft, community food and practical climate action. The project is now in its crowdfunding phase, and Lis explains what support is needed to bring the site to life. If you're curious about community growing, regenerative practices or how local people can restore nature on their doorstep, this episode is a gentle, hopeful listen full of practical insight. Support Apron's Community Farm projectClick here to go straight to their Crowd Funder
Our guest this week is really into creepy crawlys and things with loads of legs. He's also mad into not cutting his grass. He's the biodiversity officer in Trinity College but he's also from Crumlin.. it's the wonderful Collie Ennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ben Goldsmith is an environmentalist, financier, and advocate for rewilding who has spent decades at the intersection of conservation and investment. In this episode he shares his unique perspective on how finance can support ecological renewal, how rewilding is revolutionising conservation, and how investors can tap into nature recovery as an emerging asset class.Useful Links:Follow Ben on LinkedIn hereListen to his podcast Rewilding the World hereRead Ben's book recommendation: Feral by George MonbiotClick here for the episode web page. This episode is also available on YouTube.For more insights straight to your inbox subscribe to the Future in Sight newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram This podcast is brought to you by Re:Co, a tech-powered advisory company helping private market investors pursue sustainability objectives and value creation in tandem. Produced by Chris AttawayArtwork by Harriet RichardsonMusic by Cody Martin
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Jonathan Watts sets off on a three-day boat trip down the Amazon – with indigenous leaders, scientists, artists and more – to report on Cop30, the climate summit taking place this year in Brazil. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Transforming a Family Garden for Biodiversity and Joy: A Chat with Nikki ShepherdIn this unique episode of the Biodiversity Podcast by Teases, we deviate from our usual format of interviewing industry professionals to have an engaging chat with Nikki Shepherd, a former client. Conducted from Nikki's own garden, we delve into the transformative journey of turning a neglected football pitch into a thriving, biodiversity-rich garden. Nikki shares insights on the project's inception in early spring 2023, the challenges faced, and the heartwarming community contributions, like using neighborhood brambles and rubble. They also discuss the evolving landscape's impact on mental well-being, family bonding through DIY efforts, and the joy of reconnecting with creativity and nature. This episode captures the essence of personalized garden design and its profound effects on lifestyle and environment.00:00 Introduction to the Biodiversity Podcast00:36 Meet Nikki Shepherd: A Client's Journey01:03 Transforming the Garden: From Football Pitch to Biodiverse Haven02:20 Designing for Wildlife and Family03:39 The Evolution of the Garden06:16 Embracing Creativity and Play in Garden Design15:34 The Emotional Connection to the Garden17:32 Hands-On Garden Transformation: A Family Effort28:42 Theater Studies and Creative Background41:33 Neighborly Fence Project42:28 Creative Reuse of Materials43:17 Cognitive Dissonance in Sustainability44:17 Reviving Old Furniture45:17 Power Washing Adventures45:41 Kids and Reuse Lessons46:14 Wildlife in the Garden46:48 The Great Sand Debate50:35 Insect Mimicry and Observations58:18 Seasonal Changes and Garden Design01:06:38 Reflections on Seasons and Productivity01:17:49 Design Process and Visualization01:21:54 Conclusion and Farewell
A warm, rain-soaked week and a thoughtful listener email sparked a timely deep dive into a familiar garden tension: how do you build a biodiversity-rich space that everyone agrees looks beautiful? We take you step by step through turning a former lawn into a living ecosystem, balancing what pollinators need with what people want to see. If you've ever faced the “it looks messy” critique, this guide offers design moves that flip the script without sacrificing wildlife value.We start by resetting expectations around wildflower meadows, especially those sown over ex-lawn. Without an existing seed bank, grass dominates and colour can lag. The fixes are practical and patient: keep removing cuttings to lower fertility, use yellow rattle to weaken grass, and scarify pockets for targeted sowing. Then, make the space legible. Mown paths and a small seating or yoga circle instantly signal intent, invite people into the habitat, and create daily contact with bees, birds and seed heads.For early-season colour that truly helps wildlife, we champion a smart mix of native stalwarts and pollinator-friendly non-natives. Plant bluebells, crocus, muscari, snowdrops and daffodils in generous drifts where they'll be seen. Add camassias for height and impact in grass, wood anemone in shade, and native primrose for soft, spreading bloom. To elevate the whole garden, bring in structure: crab apples like Malus ‘Evereste' for blossom and fruit, willows for vital spring catkins, and sorbus for autumn berries. A wildlife pond multiplies life further, and herb-rich borders with rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon balm and borage keep nectar flowing while feeding your kitchen.Layer in small habitat features—dead hedges, sand banks for solitary bees, bug hotels, bird feeders—and you'll shift from “wildflower patch” to a functioning ecosystem. Along the way, we share how to tell the garden's story so sceptical partners and neighbours can see the purpose behind the look. Subscribe for more practical, seasonal tips, share this with a friend planning a meadow, and leave a review with your favourite early pollinator plant—we'll feature the best picks on a future show.Support the showIf there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: info@mastermygarden.com Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John
Matthew Dickerson is a freelance writer who has published in The Drake, Backcountry Journal, American Fly Fishing, Written River, and Fly Fishing International. He has also written many books of both fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing, he is passionate about native species, particularly those in the Salvelinus genus, such as brook trout and Dolly Varden. In this episode, we talk about his appreciation for native species and biodiversity, what it's like to be an artist-in-residence for a national park, how Yellowstone Lake was affected by the introduction of lake trout, and much more. Instagram: @troutdownstream Blue Sky: @matthewdickerson Facebook: //MatthewDickersonBooks/ Recent Books: The Salvelinus, the Sockeye, and the Egg-Sucking Leech A Fine-spotted Trout on Corral Creek The Voices of Rivers Birds in the Sky, Fish in the Sea Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Padraic Fogarty, Ecologist and Author and Christopher O'Sullivan, Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity
"The Economics of Biodiversity” was published by the UK Treasury in 2021. It sets out how economic systems value biodiversity and natural capital, and which policies would preserve and restore nature. The project leader was Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta of the University of Cambridge. In the latest of our special episodes recorded at the first Hoffmann Centre / CEPR / ReCIPE Conference continue, he tells Tim Phillips what he learned from hanging out with ecologists, why we need indicators of economic performance that value nature, and why we should worry about the decline of natural capital. The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/final-report-the-economics-of-biodiversity-the-dasgupta-review
This episode explores how ancestral plant wisdom can reshape the future of healthcare and the economy. Clinical herbalist and educator Laura Ash shares practical insights on ethical herbalism, biopiracy, whole-plant medicine, and why reconnecting with traditional knowledge matters for human and planetary wellbeing. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, scientific, and economic dimensions of herbal medicine and how to apply these lessons in their own work and lives.View the show notes: www.lifteconomy.com/blog/reclaiming-ancestral-medicine-for-a-regenerative-future-w/-laura-ashSupport the show
Tim Christophersen, one of the world's leading voices on ecosystem restoration, joins Dr. Gillian Lockitch for episode 233 of the Growing Older Living Younger podcast. With over 25 years of experience shaping global climate and biodiversity policy at the United Nations and now leading sustainability initiatives at Salesforce, Tim discusses how restoring our relationship with nature is essential not only for planetary health but very much so for our personal health and longevity. From the philosophy of ecological literacy to regenerative farming, urban green equity, and corporate climate action, this episode reveals how every generation can become part of "Generation Restoration", thrive at any age and extend our healthspan to live long and die healthy. Tim Christophersen is Vice President of Climate Action at Salesforce, where he helps mobilize businesses worldwide for ecosystem restoration and sustainability. Previously, he served 15 years with the United Nations Environment Program, playing key roles in shaping the Paris Climate Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Author of Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature, Tim is also a regenerative farmer in Denmark and a passionate advocate for ecological literacy. Episode Timeline 0:00 – Introduction to the Podcast and Guest Dr. Gillian Lockitch introduces the focus on healthy aging, the theme of restoring our relationship with nature, and guest Tim Christophersen's global leadership in climate and biodiversity advocacy. 4:13 – Tim's Early Influences and Career Journey Childhood in rural Germany, deep connection to nature with his forester grandfather, studies in forestry, and recognition of the philosophical shift needed away from commoditizing nature. 6:09 – The Philosophical Shift and Climate Change Why the Enlightenment view of nature as a machine is harmful; the call for a reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationship with nature; practical advice from Tim's book. 7:54 – Transition to Salesforce and Corporate Sustainability From UN diplomacy to corporate climate leadership; Salesforce's Trillion Trees Initiative; how the private sector brings speed and scale to sustainability. 9:40 – Personal Responsibility and Climate Skepticism Tackling mistrust in climate science, shifting baseline syndrome, and why personal stories—like the collapse of the European eel—illustrate urgent environmental realities. 14:25 – Everyday Actions and Ecological Literacy Why ecological literacy matters; practical benefits of time in nature; how mindset shifts shape healthier lifestyles and consumption patterns. 17:56 – Urban Farming and Food Production The misconception of large-scale productivity; lessons from Havana; opportunities for community and urban gardens; biodiversity within cities. 21:29 – Health and Environmental Equity One Health concept—linking planetary and human health; urban green spaces as life-saving infrastructure; equity challenges in access to nature. 23:54 – Biodiversity and Public Health The link between deforestation and vector-borne disease; mosquitoes, malaria, and ecosystem collapse; why intact forests are vital for human health. 26:44 – Positive Trends and Future Outlook Corporate responsibility trends in Mars, Nestlé, Unilever; the rise of regenerative farming and restoration projects; the need for faster action. 28:08 – Conclusion and Call to Action Tim invites everyone to join Generation Restoration; Gillian shares guides and resources to support healthspan and ecological literacy; encouragement to subscribe and share the podcast. Learn More about Tim Christophersen's work and book: Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature http://www.timchristophersen.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-christophersen-a4876228/ Download your complimentary Guide from Dr. Lockitch Strategies to Boost Mind and Memory Guide to Nature's Colourful Antioxidants Quick Guide to Medicinal and Culinary Mushrooms Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch Email: askdrgill@gmail.com Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Share this episode with friends
In this lively, idea packed episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Wem move from Halloween chatter to a full nature reset. Wales waterfalls, Pen y Fan, Regent's Park squirrels, and the deer rut at Richmond Park set the scene for a deeper dive. Lewis picks up Ludo Botany again and invites listeners to help build a new series, starting with tree climbing. The pair then unpack a Finnish trial that “rewilded” kindergartens with real forest floor to boost children's microbiomes, compare new Australian findings, and explore equity, ethics, hygiene practice, and culture change. A new original song appears too. It is written from the viewpoint of an oak tree watching its acorns become craft supplies.
Over the past 10 years, the investment case for batteries and battery storage has evolved phenomenally as their efficacy in supporting the energy transition became more apparent.But Australia remains behind many other developed countries, even five years behind the UK, and Gresham House chief executive Tony Dalwood says educating super funds and other institutions could be the answer.Dalwood joins The Greener Way to discuss opportunities in batteries and battery storage, as well as sharing his insights on forestry and biodiversity – including why Australia should consider a biodiversity fund within the Future Fund.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
In this episode, host Damien sits down with filmmaker and conservationist Arix Zalace, the creative mind behind The Paper Bear — a visually stunning blend of animation and live action that tells the story of Florida's disappearing wilderness.Arix shares how his journey from producing corporate films evolved into a years-long mission of documenting Florida's black bears and protecting one of North America's most biodiverse regions. What began as a passion project became a cinematic call to action that uses art and emotion to reconnect people with the natural world.
About the Guest: Andrea Hoerr is a committed environmental advocate working with Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and Great Old Broads for Wilderness in Tucson, Arizona. Her work involves fighting against environmentally detrimental projects, such as huge mining operations and the development of border walls in biodiverse regions. Andrea, also known as Dre, uses her expertise as an Arizona Master Naturalist to engage in preserving wilderness areas and fostering grassroots efforts for environmental conservation. Episode Summary: In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast," host Chris Clarke engages with Andrea Hoerr, a fervent activist for desert conservation and biodiversity protection. Hoerr highlights the ecological threats posed by the potential construction of a 27-mile border wall through the San Rafael Valley in Southern Arizona. The episode covers the rich biodiversity of the region, including its status as a biodiversity hotspot and migration corridor for a variety of species. The conversation dives deep into the importance of the San Rafael Valley's grasslands, shedding light on the impending consequences of border wall construction, such as disrupted animal migration, waterway destruction, and habitat fragmentation. Hoerr underscores the collective resistance against these developments and invites listeners to a peaceful rally on November 15 aimed at raising awareness and protecting the valley. By presenting comprehensive anecdotes and first-hand experiences, this episode serves as a powerful call to action for greater environmental advocacy. Key Takeaways: The San Rafael Valley in Southern Arizona is a critical biodiversity hotspot, threatened by a proposed 27-mile border wall. Andrea Hoerr and her fellow activists are organizing a rally on November 15th to raise awareness about the ecological impacts of the border wall. The proposed wall will disrupt animal migration corridors, hamper natural waterways, and result in habitat fragmentation. Biodiversity is vital not only to the environment but also to national security, as recognized by various institutions, including the military. Engaging with and bearing witness to the land helps solidify community commitment to environmental conservation efforts. Notable Quotes: "Biodiversity is important to the health and well-being of not only humans, but all the 10 million species that are interconnected." "We acted as if we can do whatever we want without any concern for the repercussions." "You cannot really grasp the magnitude of what's happening here until you get there, until you bear witness for yourself." "Art, as you know, is such an important way to reach people." "We choose to try not to paint everyone with a broad brush. There’s a lot more hearts and minds that can be won over." Resources: Save the Scenic Santa Ritas Great Old Broads for Wilderness Instagram: Rally for the Valley Andrea Hoerr on Bluesky Website: Border Wall Resistance Tune in to the full episode for an inspiring and detailed exploration of the San Rafael Valley, its invaluable ecology, and the community efforts to protect it. Stay connected for more stories and insights from "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast." Podcast episode artwork courtesy Sky Island Alliance. Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Justine Doctolero is Project Development Officer at Fish-i. Fish-i is a patented hardware-software fish visual census technology developed by the University of the Philippines' Department of Computer Science and Marine Science Institute. It uses a stereo camera setup mounted on a rig to capture underwater footage from sample sites. The data collected is then analyzed by the AI-powered Video Analyzer Software, which identifies fish species, counts individuals, and estimates fish size, biomass, and population density. This system offers a precise, automated method for monitoring marine biodiversity, which is vital for ecosystem management and conservation. This episode is recorded live during the 2025 Regional Science and Technology Week in Western Visayas organized by DOST Region VI, held at Robinsons Roxas, Capiz.In this episode | 01:17 Ano ang Fish-i? | 07:00 What problem is being solved? | 14:30 What solution is being provided? | 29:34 What are stories behind the startup? | 44:52 What is the vision? | 54:03 How can listeners find more information?FISH-I | Website: https://fishi.ph | Facebook: https://facebook.com/fishiphDOST REGION VI | Website: https://region6.dost.gov.ph | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DOSTRegionVICHECK OUT OUR PARTNERS:Ask Lex PH Academy: https://asklexph.com (5% discount on e-learning courses! Code: ALPHAXSUP)Argum AI: http://argum.aiPIXEL by Eplayment: https://pixel.eplayment.co/auth/sign-up?r=PIXELXSUP1 (Sign up using Code: PIXELXSUP1)School of Profits: https://schoolofprofits.academyFounders Launchpad: https://founderslaunchpad.vcHier Business Solutions: https://hierpayroll.comAgile Data Solutions (Hustle PH): https://agiledatasolutions.techSmile Checks: https://getsmilechecks.comCloudCFO: https://cloudcfo.ph (Free financial assessment, process onboarding, and 6-month QuickBooks subscription! Mention: Start Up Podcast PH)Cloverly: https://cloverly.techBuddyBetes: https://buddybetes.comHKB Digital Services: https://contakt-ph.com (10% discount on RFID Business Cards! Code: CONTAKTXSUP)Hyperstacks: https://hyperstacksinc.comOneCFO: https://onecfoph.co (10% discount on CFO services! Code: ONECFOXSUP)UNAWA: https://unawa.asiaSkoolTek: https://skooltek.coBetter Support: https://bettersupport.io (Referral fee for anyone who can bring in new BPO clients!)Britana: https://britanaerp.comWunderbrand: https://wunderbrand.comEastPoint Business Outsourcing Services: https://facebook.com/eastpointoutsourcingDVCode Technologies Inc: https://dvcode.techNutriCoach: https://nutricoach.comUplift Code Camp: https://upliftcodecamp.com (5% discount on bootcamps and courses! Code: UPLIFTSTARTUPPH)START UP PODCAST PHYouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | FacebookPatreon: https://patreon.com/StartUpPodcastPHPIXEL: https://pixel.eplayment.co/dl/startuppodcastphWebsite: https://phstartup.onlineEdited by the team at: https://tasharivera.com
University of Waikato Senior Lecturer of Ecology, Biodiversity and Animal Behaviour Dr Ang McGaughran joins Emile Donovan.
Our understanding of the evolution of biodiversity is based on fossil evidence. But so much more may lie buried and reveal a different story.
Thirty years after the United Nations first called for global action on climate change, progress remains painfully slow. Year after year, world leaders meet, make promises, and defer real solutions. Why? Because top-down global governance continues to fail in a world divided by power, politics, and inequality. In this episode, Linwood Pendleton, Global Coordinator of the Ocean Knowledge Action Network, argues that it's time to look elsewhere for answers. Drawing on his work with Indigenous academics, ocean scientists, and local communities around the world, he explains why true progress depends on wisdom from the ground up. Hope, he insists, lies not in endless summits—but in reconnecting with knowledge systems that already know how to live in balance with the planet.
Patrick Greenfield hikes up the Virunga mountains in east Africa to trace the remarkable comeback of the mountain gorilla. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Can architecture help us create a future where both humans and nature can thrive? And is it possible to truly strengthen biodiversity in big cities – or are we just creating small, isolated pockets of green? In this episode, Michael Booth meets ecologist, biodiversity developer and founder of Oiko, Kristine Kjørup Rasmussen. Together they explore Copenhagen's Nordhavn district – from concrete cityscapes to wild wastelands – to see how biodiversity can be measured, protected, and even enhanced in the midst of urban development. Guest: Kristine Kjørup Rasmussen, ecologist and founder of Oiko Host: Michael Booth Let's Talk Architecture is a podcast by Danish Architecture Center. Sound edits by Munck Studios.
SUGi creates pocket forests that breathe life into urban spaces. Founded in London and now operating in over 50 cities worldwide, SUGi uses the innovative Miyawaki method to transform small urban areas into thriving, biodiverse ecosystems. In a space the size of a tennis court, they can plant approximately 600 trees that grow rapidly, creating a mature forest in just a fraction of the time nature would typically require. Adrian Wong, UK Forest Lead, explains, "If nature did it naturally, it usually takes 150 to 500 years for a forest to mature. We supercharge that process." At the heart of SUGi's success is soil restoration. "Without a living, healthy soil, we can't do what we're doing," Adrian emphasises. They meticulously prepare urban sites by aerating the ground, introducing beneficial organisms like mycelium and worms, and creating a nutrient-rich environment that supports rapid growth and biodiversity. For me, as Adrian was telling us this, I felt this emphasis on creating a healthy environment for life to thrive, is similar to what we are trying to do with Biophilic Design inside our homes, hospitals, workplaces, creating healthy environments that enable all life to flourish. The impact is remarkable. Even in seemingly inhospitable urban locations, these micro forests attract diverse wildlife. At their South Bank forest, they've recorded an incredible range of species, including blue tits, green finches, and surprisingly, even tawny owls and peregrine falcons. Research is increasingly demonstrating the mental health benefits of these urban forests. A study with Oxford University is exploring how the volatile organic compounds released by trees can reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being. As Adrian puts it, "We're learning how to quantify the benefits that we know exist." Contrary to expectations, these forests require minimal maintenance. After initial care in the first three to four years, the forests become self-sustaining ecosystems. "Beyond that point, the forest looks after itself," Adrian explains. Adrian himself looks after over 30 forests on his own, which just proves that the method of planting is self-sustaining, affordable and there is no economic downside to scaling these across cities too. Just benefits. SUGi's approach addresses urban inequity by bringing green spaces to areas traditionally lacking natural environments. Their forests provide access to nature in communities that have been concrete bound, offering mental health benefits, educational opportunities, and a sense of community ownership. Everything which the Biophilia hypothesis encourages, and Biophilic Designers are aiming to create. "I would love to see a city that's part of nature, a city that's in nature," Adrian says at the end. This means integrating green spaces seamlessly into urban landscapes – from moss-covered walls to green roofs that provide habitat and food-growing opportunities. SUGi is always seeking collaborators. "Finding land is our biggest challenge," Adrian notes. Architects, city planners, and community leaders are invited to explore how micro forests can transform urban spaces. In just six years, SUGi has planted over 200 forests worldwide, proving that small spaces can create significant environmental and social change. If you have land which is calling out for a mini forest, please reach out directly to SUGi to collaborate. These pocket forests are more than just trees they are essential in our healing and connection in our urban landscapes. https://www.instagram.com/sugiproject/https://www.linkedin.com/company/sugiproject/posts/?feedView=allhttps://www.sugiproject.com/https://cdn.sanity.io/files/oyzyxja8/v2/913f3ee130ed408e418cd2b76a3e7bddf562c550.pdf He will be speaking at the biophilic design conference on: . A passion developed from his time travelling and observing how society benefits most when nature and humanity can coexist. He will be speaking about:Biodiversity & Belonging: why wild urban spaces matter.Every citizen deserves access to thriving, biodiverse nature. SUGi is a model of urban renewal rooted in ownership, pride, and shared responsibility. We transform urban spaces through hyper-local pocket forests. From climate resilience to improving mental health, we'll explore how wild urban spaces and nature connectedness can restore our sense of belonging — and how this, in turn, supports biodiversity and human well-being. To book your ticket visit www.biophilicdesignconference.com This is the factory in the forest Adrian mentioned: https://medium.com/@dinushi.urbanforests/factory-in-the-forest-adcdd18f7f9c Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle. Book tickets and join us in PERSON and LIVE STREAMED Biophilic Design Conferencewww.biophilicdesignconference.comCredits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. Listen to our podcast on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and all the RSS feeds.https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn
Muck, glorious muck! Sounds funny, but it's true. The “muck” found north of NYC and south of the capital city may look like black dirt to some, but it's more like black gold to those who know – and that's not a Clampett reference. The agricultural region known as the Hudson Valley grows almost everything like nowhere else, due to this phenomenal resource.Join us today as we speak with Michael Risario and Jeff Scales. They took a moment from their busy duties at the Rhinebeck Farmers Market to talk about the incredible bounty that can be found in the Hudson Valley – but especially can be found every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rhinebeck. Rain, shine…or muck. Just how we like it. Links:http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Riverhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheephttps://www.ediblehudsonvalley.com/2022/black-magic-hudson-valleys-special-soil/https://www.rhinebeckreformed.org/historyhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genusSupport the show
Flavor trend expert Melanie Zanoza Bartelme of Mintel shares how social media, Gen Z curiosity, and a craving for comfort are redefining the tastes of 2026 and beyond. Food scientist Abbey Thiel breaks down the concept of biodiversity, drilling into why it matters in terms of sustainability, nutrition, and food security. Plus: This episode of … Continue reading EP 70: Flavor Trends for 2026 and Beyond, Why Biodiversity Matters →
Carbon, selfishly, has dominated the sustainability conversation for some time. But what about the often-overlooked foundation of our everything in our economy: biodiversity. How can you measure that if its basically everything? We show you how in this episode, exploring how every business, from agriculture to technology, depends on the health of ecosystems, and how investors can now quantify those connections through innovative data-driven tools. By unpacking the creation of our new Biodiversity Risk Index Screen, the conversation reveals how measuring nature's complexity can help reduce financial exposure to environmental loss and drive more resilient investment strategies. It's a deep dive into how markets are beginning to account for the true value of the natural world. Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Laura Coomber, MSCI ESG Research
The snow leopard, a mysterious and endangered big cat, roams the High Himalayas across a dozen countries—many of them rivals in politics, religion, and ideology. Yet these nations have found rare common ground: protecting this remarkable animal. In this episode, Dr. Charu Mishra, Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Trust, explains how a shared commitment to conservation has become a bridge for peace and cooperation in one of the world's most fragile and contested regions. From climate change to border conflicts, the Himalayas mirror global challenges—but Mishra's story reveals that even amid tension and competition, shared humanity and ecological interdependence can inspire collaboration. His work offers a model for how protecting nature can also protect people.
Experts for Dummies: Jacqui Theis on urban biodiversity & talk @Ombrellos by Zac Hoffman on Radio One 91FM Dunedin
As the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew celebrate the 25th Birthday of the Millenium Seed Bank in Sussex, James Tytko ventures into its giant underground vaults to learn why they are a crucial part of global plant conservation... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
As biodiversity declines, locating and conserving the planet's plant life is becoming more important. The Millennium seed bank in Wakehurst, West Sussex, has been doing just that for 25 years, collecting and storing seeds and keeping them in trust for countries all over the world should they ever be needed. To mark the anniversary, Patrick Greenfield took a tour of the site. He tells Madeleine Finlay about the journey a seed takes from arrival to cold storage, and how some are already helping to return endangered plant species to the wild. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Episode Summary: In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast," host Chris Clarke takes listeners into the complex worlds of wildlife policy and desert preservation. The episode features Mandy Culbertson, Communications Director at Wildlife for All, discussing the implications of state and federal-level wildlife governance on biodiversity and the environment, particularly within the Southwest's desert landscapes. She explains how Wildlife for All is working to reform state wildlife governance by including more democratic processes and scientific approaches to benefit ecosystems and wildlife populations. Mandy provides an insightful analysis of the current state of wildlife management in the Southwest and beyond, highlighting the disparity in effectiveness among different states. With a critical eye on states like Arizona and Montana, Chris and Mandy discuss pressing issues such as the militarization of the US-Mexico border and its detrimental effects on wildlife. Mandy elaborates on how public pressure can influence policy decisions, citing recent victories and ongoing struggles in wildlife advocacy. The conversation also highlights the crippling impact of the recent federal government shutdown on wildlife protection efforts, especially for endangered species like the Mexican gray wolf. Key Takeaways: Wildlife for All's Mission: The organization focuses on transforming state wildlife governance to protect biodiversity and strengthen ecosystems with an ethical and democratic approach. Southwestern Biodiversity: The American Southwest is a biodiversity hotspot facing unique challenges such as habitat fragmentation, climate change, and urban development pressures. State Wildlife Management: States like Arizona exhibit problematic wildlife management practices, often putting political ideology and special interests over scientific and ethical considerations. Impact of Border Militarization: Increased infrastructure and enforcement along the US-Mexico border significantly disrupt wildlife corridors, affecting numerous species. Federal and State Dynamics: The federal government shutdown exacerbates challenges in managing and protecting wildlife. Notable Quotes: "Most folks don't realize that state agencies, state wildlife agencies, are responsible for the vast majority of wildlife management in this country." — Mandy Culbertson "Protecting biodiversity and restoring healthy ecosystems requires a more ethical and democratic and just approach to wildlife policy." — Mandy Culbertson "The war on wildlife isn't separate from the crisis of democracy that we're seeing right now. It's a symptom of the same disease." — Mandy Culbertson "Public pressure matters. These state wildlife commission meetings are a great place to get involved." — Mandy Culbertson Resources: Wildlife for All Website: https://wildlifeforall.us Wildlife For All's Wildlife Advocacy Toolkit: https://wildlifeforall.us/take-action/advocacy-toolkit/ Wildlife For All also compiles a regular list of state wildlife commission meetings: https://wildlifeforall.us/october-wildlife-commission-meetings/ No Kings Movement: https://nokings.org Permission to Pollute Act (bill text): https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3898/text Public Lands Rule Public Comment (ends November 10): Engage in the ongoing public comment to help keep non-consumptive use of public lands (like hiking, camping, wildlife watching) on an equal policy footing with mining and logging. For more info: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-proposes-rescind-public-lands-rule-restoring-balanced-multiple-use Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Biodiversity Crisis by Alex by 826 Valencia
It's part 2 of our dive into the Insect Apocalypse, with our good friend Dr. Jason Dombroskie from the Cornell University Insect Collection!In this part, Jason fills us in on the drivers of the Insect Apocalypse and - most importantly - what we can do about it.This episode was recorded on August 21, 2025 at Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area in Dalton, NY.. Episode NotesDuring the episode, we made the claim that 40 million acres of the US is lawn, and that that area is equal to all of the country's National Parks put together. True? Well, sort of. The claim that the U.S. has about 40 million acres of lawn—roughly equal to all our national parks combined—is only partly true. A NASA-funded study led by Cristina Milesi estimated that turfgrass covers about 128,000 km² (≈31 million acres) of the continental U.S., making it the largest irrigated “crop” in the country (Milesi et al., Environmental Management, 2005; NASA Earth Observatory). Later analyses and popular summaries often round that up to ≈40 million acres (e.g., Scienceline, 2011; LawnStarter, 2023). By comparison, the total land area of all officially designated U.S. National Parks is about 52.4 million acres, while the entire National Park System—which also includes monuments, preserves, and historic sites—covers about 85 million acres (National Park Service, 2024). So while lawns and parks occupy areas of similar magnitude, lawns do not actually equal or exceed the combined area of the national parks. Is it better to mulch leaves on your lawn or leave them be? Here's what we found: It's generally best to mulch your leaves with a mower rather than rake or remove them. Research from Michigan State University found that mowing leaves into small pieces allows them to decompose quickly, returning nutrients to the soil and reducing weeds like dandelions and crabgrass (MSU Extension, “Don't rake leaves — mulch them into your lawn”, 2012). Cornell University studies similarly show that mulched leaves improve soil structure, moisture retention, and microbial activity (Cornell Cooperative Extension, “Leaf Mulching: A Sustainable Alternative”, 2019). However, in garden beds, wooded edges, or under shrubs, it's often better to leave leaves whole, since they provide winter habitat for butterflies, bees, and other invertebrates that overwinter in leaf litter (National Wildlife Federation, “Leave the Leaves for Wildlife”, 2020). The ideal approach is a mix: mow-mulch leaves on grassy areas for turf health and leave them intact where they naturally fall to support biodiversity and soil ecology. Episode LinksThe Cornell University Insect Collection Also, check out their great Instagram feedAnd their annual October event InsectapaloozaFind out more about the recently discovered species of Swallowtail, Papilio solstitius, commonly known as the Midsummer Tiger Swallowtail- https://www.sci.news/biology/papilio-solstitius-13710.htmlSponsors and Ways to Support UsThank you to Always Wandering Art (Website and Etsy Shop) for providing the artwork for many of our episodes.Support us on Patreon.Works CitedBiesmeijer, J.C., Roberts, S.P., Reemer, M., Ohlemuller, R., Edwards, M., Peeters, T., Schaffers, A.P., Potts, S.G., Kleukers, R.J.M.C., Thomas, C.D. and Settele, J., 2006. Parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and the Netherlands. Science, 313(5785), pp.351-354. Boyle, M.J., Bonebrake, T.C., Dias da Silva, K., Dongmo, M.A., Machado França, F., Gregory, N., Kitching, R.L., Ledger, M.J., Lewis, O.T., Sharp, A.C. and Stork, N.E., 2025. 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Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 98(6), pp.941-950. Edwards, C.B., Zipkin, E.F., Henry, E.H., Haddad, N.M., Forister, M.L., Burls, K.J., Campbell, S.P., Crone, E.E., Diffendorfer, J., Douglas, M.R. and Drum, R.G., 2025. Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century. Science, 387(6738), pp.1090-1094. Gaona, F.P., Iñiguez-Armijos, C., Brehm, G., Fiedler, K. and Espinosa, C.I., 2021. Drastic loss of insects (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in urban landscapes in a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Insect Conservation, 25(3), pp.395-405. Gardiner, M.M., Allee, L.L., Brown, P.M., Losey, J.E., Roy, H.E. and Smyth, R.R., 2012. Lessons from lady beetles: accuracy of monitoring data from US and UK citizen‐science programs. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10(9), pp.471-476. Groenendijk, D. and van der Meulen, J., 2004. Conservation of moths in The Netherlands: population trends, distribution patterns and monitoring techniques of day-flying moths. Journal of Insect Conservation, 8(2), pp.109-118. Haddad, N.M., Haarstad, J. and Tilman, D., 2000. The effects of long-term nitrogen loading on grassland insect communities. Oecologia, 124(1), pp.73-84. Hallmann, C.A., Sorg, M., Jongejans, E., Siepel, H., Hofland, N., Schwan, H., Stenmans, W., Müller, A., Sumser, H., Hörren, T. and Goulson, D., 2017. More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas. PLoS ONE12 (10): e0185809 Hallmann, C.A., Ssymank, A., Sorg, M., de Kroon, H. and Jongejans, E., 2021. Insect biomass decline scaled to species diversity: General patterns derived from a hoverfly community. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002554117. Harris, J.E., Rodenhouse, N.L. and Holmes, R.T., 2019. Decline in beetle abundance and diversity in an intact temperate forest linked to climate warming. Biological Conservation, 240, p.108219. Hembry, D.H., 2013. Herbarium Specimens Reveal Putative Insect Extinction on the Deforested Island of Mangareva (Gambier Archipelago, French Polynesia). Pacific Science, 67(4), pp.553-560. Høye, T.T., Loboda, S., Koltz, A.M., Gillespie, M.A., Bowden, J.J. and Schmidt, N.M., 2021. Nonlinear trends in abundance and diversity and complex responses to climate change in Arctic arthropods. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002557117. Huryn, A.D. and Wallace, J.B., 2000. Life history and production of stream insects. Annual review of entomology, 45(1), pp.83-110. Kawahara, A.Y., Reeves, L.E., Barber, J.R. and Black, S.H., 2021. Eight simple actions that individuals can take to save insects from global declines. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002547117. Leuenberger, W., Doser, J.W., Belitz, M.W., Ries, L., Haddad, N.M., Thogmartin, W.E. and Zipkin, E.F., 2025. Three decades of declines restructure butterfly communities in the Midwestern United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(33), p.e2501340122. Liang, M., Yang, Q., Chase, J.M., Isbell, F., Loreau, M., Schmid, B., Seabloom, E.W., Tilman, D. and Wang, S., 2025. Unifying spatial scaling laws of biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Science, 387(6740), p.eadl2373. Lister, B.C. and Garcia, A., 2018. Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food web. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(44), pp.E10397-E10406. Owens, A.C., Pocock, M.J. and Seymoure, B.M., 2024. Current evidence in support of insect-friendly lighting practices. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 66, p.101276. Myers, L.W., Kondratieff, B.C., Grubbs, S.A., Pett, L.A., DeWalt, R.E., Mihuc, T.B. and Hart, L.V., 2025. Distributional and species richness patterns of the stoneflies (Insecta, Plecoptera) in New York State. Biodiversity Data Journal, 13, p.e158952. Pilotto, F., Kühn, I., Adrian, R., Alber, R., Alignier, A., Andrews, C., Bäck, J., Barbaro, L., Beaumont, D., Beenaerts, N. and Benham, S., 2020. Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe. Nature communications, 11(1), p.3486. Pinkert, S., Farwig, N., Kawahara, A.Y. and Jetz, W., 2025. Global hotspots of butterfly diversity are threatened in a warming world. Nature Ecology & Evolution, pp.1-12. Raven, P.H. and Wagner, D.L., 2021. Agricultural intensification and climate change are rapidly decreasing insect biodiversity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002548117. Rodrigues, A.V., Rissanen, T., Jones, M.M., Huikkonen, I.M., Huitu, O., Korpimäki, E., Kuussaari, M., Lehikoinen, A., Lindén, A., Pietiäinen, H. and Pöyry, J., 2025. Cross‐Taxa Analysis of Long‐Term Data Reveals a Positive Biodiversity‐Stability Relationship With Taxon‐Specific Mechanistic Underpinning. Ecology Letters, 28(4), p.e70003. Salcido, D.M., Forister, M.L., Garcia Lopez, H. and Dyer, L.A., 2020. Loss of dominant caterpillar genera in a protected tropical forest. Scientific reports, 10(1), p.422. Sánchez-Bayo, F. and Wyckhuys, K.A., 2019. Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers. Biological conservation, 232, pp.8-27. Schowalter, T.D., Pandey, M., Presley, S.J., Willig, M.R. and Zimmerman, J.K., 2021. Arthropods are not declining but are responsive to disturbance in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002556117. Sedlmeier, J.E., Grass, I., Bendalam, P., Höglinger, B., Walker, F., Gerhard, D., Piepho, H.P., Brühl, C.A. and Petschenka, G., 2025. Neonicotinoid insecticides can pose a severe threat to grassland plant bug communities. Communications Earth & Environment, 6(1), p.162. Shortall, C.R., Moore, A., Smith, E., Hall, M.J., Woiwod, I.P. and Harrington, R., 2009. Long‐term changes in the abundance of flying insects. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2(4), pp.251-260. Soga, M. and Gaston, K.J., 2018. Shifting baseline syndrome: causes, consequences, and implications. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(4), pp.222-230. Stork, N.E., 2018. How many species of insects and other terrestrial arthropods are there on Earth?. Annual review of entomology, 63(2018), pp.31-45. Tallamy, D.W., Narango, D.L. and Mitchell, A.B., 2021. Do non‐native plants contribute to insect declines?. Ecological Entomology, 46(4), pp.729-742. Thomas, J.A., Telfer, M.G., Roy, D.B., Preston, C.D., Greenwood, J.J.D., Asher, J., Fox, R., Clarke, R.T. and Lawton, J.H., 2004. Comparative losses of British butterflies, birds, and plants and the global extinction crisis. Science, 303(5665), pp.1879-1881. Tierno de Figueroa, J.M., López-Rodríguez, M.J., Lorenz, A., Graf, W., Schmidt-Kloiber, A. and Hering, D., 2010. Vulnerable taxa of European Plecoptera (Insecta) in the context of climate change. Biodiversity and conservation, 19(5), pp.1269-1277. Turin, H. and Den Boer, P.J., 1988. Changes in the distribution of carabid beetles in The Netherlands since 1880. II. Isolation of habitats and long-term time trends in the occurence of carabid species with different powers of dispersal (Coleoptera, Carabidae). Biological Conservation, 44(3), pp.179-200. Van Deynze, B., Swinton, S.M., Hennessy, D.A., Haddad, N.M. and Ries, L., 2024. Insecticides, more than herbicides, land use, and climate, are associated with declines in butterfly species richness and abundance in the American Midwest. PLoS One, 19(6), p.e0304319. Van Klink, R., Bowler, D.E., Gongalsky, K.B., Swengel, A.B., Gentile, A. and Chase, J.M., 2020. Meta-analysis reveals declines in terrestrial but increases in freshwater insect abundances. Science, 368(6489), pp.417-420. Wagner, D.L., Fox, R., Salcido, D.M. and Dyer, L.A., 2021. A window to the world of global insect declines: Moth biodiversity trends are complex and heterogeneous. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002549117. Wagner DL, Grames EM, Forister ML, Berenbaum MR, Stopak D. Insect decline in the Anthropocene: Death by a thousand cuts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021 Jan 12;118(2):e2023989118. WallisDeVries, M.F. and van Swaay, C.A., 2017. A nitrogen index to track changes in butterfly species assemblages under nitrogen deposition. Biological Conservation, 212, pp.448-453. Warren, M.S., Hill, J.K., Thomas, J.A., Asher, J., Fox, R., Huntley, B., Roy, D.B., Telfer, M.G., Jeffcoate, S., Harding, P. and Jeffcoate, G., 2001. Rapid responses of British butterflies to opposing forces of climate and habitat change. Nature, 414(6859), pp.65-69. Warren, M.S., Maes, D., van Swaay, C.A., Goffart, P., Van Dyck, H., Bourn, N.A., Wynhoff, I., Hoare, D. and Ellis, S., 2021. The decline of butterflies in Europe: Problems, significance, and possible solutions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002551117. Wilson, E.O., 1987. The little things that run the world (the importance and conservation of invertebrates). Conservation biology, pp.344-346. Yang, L.H. and Gratton, C., 2014. Insects as drivers of ecosystem processes. Current opinion in insect science, 2, pp.26-32.Visit thefieldguidespodcast.com for full episode notes, links, and works cited.
Professor Yvonne Buckley, Professor of Zoology at Trinity College Dublin, discusses the Climate Change Advisory Council's annual review of Irish biodiversity.
In this episode, we focus on Arctic biodiversity, which supports food security and the livelihoods of Arctic communities. Yet today, with climate change accelerating, these ecosystems are under threat of irreversible loss.Moderating the session was Archana Singh, Scientist D at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, India.This conversation was recorded live at the Arctic Circle India Forum, held in New Delhi on May 3–4, 2025, and is part of the Polar Dialogue.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org
GUEST: https://thinkfungi.org/ https://www.instagram.com/thinkfungi/ MENTIONS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrolepiota_procera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Park https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomyces_lactifluorum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnum_repandum MUSHROOM HOUR: https://welcometomushroomhour.com https://instagram.com/welcome_to_mushroom_hour https://tiktok.com/@welcome_to_mushroom_hour Show Music courtesy of the one and only Chris Peck: https://peckthetowncrier.bandcamp.com/ TOPICS COVERED: The Road to Becoming a Chef Mushroom Hunting in Prague Geography and Ecology of Ottawa Rugged Landscapes of the “Crown Lands” Bloodthirsty Insect Swarms Impacts of Land Use and Zoning Designations Go-To Chanterelle Soup Record-breaking Puffball Mushrooms Cleaning, Storing, Cooking Think Fungi Mission Cultivation and Identification Courses The Great North American Fungi Quest
How Can Coral IVF Fight Coral Bleaching?As ocean temperatures increase due to climate change, an emergent crisis known as coral bleaching is on the rise. Coral bleaching poses the largest threat to coral reefs, which are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral reef habitats occupy less than one percent of the ocean floor, but constitute more than 25% of all marine life, providing habitats for a vast array of species from small organisms to large fish and sharks. Additionally, biodiverse reefs provide a variety of economic benefits, supporting jobs, tourism, and fisheries. Reefs also protect lives and property in coastal areas, absorbing 97% of a wave's energy while buffering against currents, waves, and storms.However, when ocean temperatures rise, corals become stressed and expel the marine algae living inside their tissues, known as zooxanthellae. Typically, coral live synergistically with zooxanthellae, meaning the algae provide food for the coral while the algae use the coral as shelter. Due to stress, corals expel zooxanthellae, causing them to become a white skeleton. If the temperatures remain high, the coral won't allow the algae back and the coral will die. Once corals die, reefs rarely come back. As climate change progresses with its warming trend, corals endure greater stress, and experience longer and more intense bleaching events. Between 2014 and 2017, 30% of the world's reefs experienced heat-stress leading to coral bleaching. In 2005, the US lost half of its coral reefs in the Caribbean in one year due to a massive bleaching event. Fortunately, marine biologists have been working on a new strategy to restore damaged coral reefs, known as Coral IVF (in vitro fertilization), which entails taking healthy coral eggs and sperm, crossing them in a supervised pool, and returning the mature coral to a damaged coral reef. Importantly, IVF coral are often bred to be resilient to heat-induced bleaching, making Coral IVF a successful strategy in fortifying reefs against bleaching.What exactly is Coral IVF?Coral IVF begins with biologists collecting spawn, or coral eggs and sperm, from heat-tolerant corals that have survived coral bleaching events. With these spawn, biologists can rear millions of baby corals in tanks and coral nursery pools before repopulating damaged reefs for restoration. So far, coral IVF has proven successful. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) Foundation planted 22 large colonies of new baby corals off Heron Island in 2016. Four years later, the researchers found that the corals had survived a bleaching event and grown to maturity. The next year, the corals had reproduced and spawned babies of their own. In 2016, 81% of the northernmost section of the GBR was severely bleached, including mass bleaching in other sections. The GBR provides an estimated economic value of $56 billion, including 64,000 jobs stemming from the reef. Losing the reef would be a major economic loss for Australia, which has already lost 50% of its coral since 1995. With coral IVF, there is hope for an eventual repopulation of the reef with healthy corals. Beyond the GBR, coral IVF is taking place in reefs across the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Approximately 90% of IVF-created corals survived 2023's heat wave, holding on to the algae that sustain them.The Advantages of Coral BreedingCoral IVF not only mitigates short term reef loss, but also strengthens reefs in the long term. One study revealed that corals in the GBR that survived bleaching in 2016 had twice the average heat tolerance the following year. Research reveals that corals can pass on their adaptive strategies to their offspring. Experiments also reveal that heat-adapted corals can thrive in new environments and be an important source of reef regeneration globally. This technique can therefore be applied to any coral population. Further, the IVF process also can be done quickly, allowing scientists to respond to coral damage in an emergency.Climate change poses an insurmountable riskUnfortunately, climate change still poses a threat to IVF created coral reefs. By 2049, annual bleaching events will become the norm in the tropics. Research reveals that as global temperatures rise, coral will become less tolerant to heat related stress. In Australia, there has been a massive bleaching event every other year for six years. Due to the frequency of such events, coral's ability to reproduce is compromised for a number of years. As global emissions continue to rise, temperatures will continue to rise, inducing further heat-related stress. Eventually, coral may not be able to live in excessively hot ocean waters. Coral IVF is an effective strategy to prepare corals for future temperatures, but likely only up to a certain point.About our guestDr. Saskia Jurriaans is a marine scientist working on the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, a multi-organizational partnership between the Australian Institute Of Marine Science, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and others. On her team, she optimizes coral breeding techniques, as well as developing asexual coral reproduction methods to support the Great Barrier Reef.ResourcesAustralian Marine Conservation Society, What is Coral Bleaching?Coral Guardian, Why are coral reefs so important?Coral Reef Alliance, Biodiversity of Coral ReefsGreat Barrier Reef Foundation, What is Coral IVF?NOAA, Get Involved with the NOAA Coral Reef WatchFurther ReadingNOAA, Why are coral reefs important?Time, The Great Barrier Reef Is Being Depleted by Pollution and Climate Change. Could ‘Coral IVF' Save It?The Guardian, The Great Barrier Reef: a catastrophe laid bareThe Guardian, Why there is hope that the world's coral reefs can be savedThe Guardian, Scientists' experiment is ‘beacon of hope' for coral reefs on brink of global collapseFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/breeding-heat-resilient-coral-to-restore-at-risk-coral-reefs-with-dr-saskia-jurriaans/.
Dr. Kamal Bawa, founder of ATREE and global ecologist, shares insights on biodiversity, conservation, and how communities and individuals can protect our planet. Discover practical actions and global perspectives from decades of ecological research.00:38- About Dr Kamal BawaDr Bawa is the founder of the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology & The Environment (ATREE) in Bengaluru in India.He's also a distinguished professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Think fungi are just mushrooms and mold? Think again. Over 90% of fungal species are still unknown, and scientists are discovering new ones all the time. This World Fungus Day, dive into the hidden, fascinating world of fungi with us.
Host Chris Clarke takes listeners along on a recent journey to El Paso for the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta. The trip was made possible by supporters who contributed to the Chihuahuan Desert Travel Fund. Clarke shares insights and experiences from traveling over 1600 miles across the deserts of the Southwest. This episode provides a heartfelt thank you to supporters and explores the challenges facing desert conservation. As Clarke reflects on the journey, he explores common ecological threats facing desert regions, ranging from industrial development to climate change and invasive species. The episode features stories and experiences gathered from Tucson to El Paso, highlighting the bond people form with these arid landscapes and the innovative ways communities are working to protect them. Clarke concludes by discussing the potential for a cross-desert conservation movement, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and communication. Key Takeaways: The Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta provided a platform for connecting with desert conservationists and highlighted the biodiversity and challenges unique to desert ecosystems. The trip was a success thanks to generous donations, enabling Clarke to engage with local communities and build relationships that transcend geographic boundaries. Ecological threats, such as invasive species and climate change, affect all desert regions, necessitating collaborative conservation efforts. Personal connections and face-to-face interactions can be pivotal in galvanizing support and fostering shared passion for desert protection. The idea of a continent-wide desert conservation movement underscores the need for innovative communication channels between diverse communities. Notable Quotes: "The ecosystems are fragile in the sense that they are slow to heal from disturbance. They can take centuries to recover." "There is a diverse group of people working on protecting the deserts... that care about the desert and want to protect it." "I think the thing that I was most impressed by from mile one of this trip is the degree of passion that these places raise in their defenders." "It would be great for people in Las Vegas to be familiar with what people in El Paso are facing and vice versa." Resources: 90 Miles from Needles https://90milesfromneedles.com The Mojave Project: https://mojaveproject.org/ Adriana Bachmann - https://www.instagram.com/myclimateclarity Eli Heller - https://www.instagram.com/desertnaturalist Henry Brean at AZ Daily Star: https://tucson.com/users/profile/henry%20brean/ Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're heading East today! Oregon's Blue Mountains encompass some of the most beautiful landscapes and habitats anywhere. Within the Blue's 15,000 square miles, you'll find such Oregon gems as the John Day river, the Eagle Cap wilderness, Hell's Canyon, and a huge percentage of Oregon's forests. But because they are geographically isolated from major population centers, they often don't get the recognition they deserve.That remoteness also makes them vulnerable to resource extraction. And right now, the Forest Service, which manages millions of acres of public land within the Blues, is revising their management plan under the most environmentally hostile administration in my lifetime.To learn more about this special part of Oregon, and how to defend it, I'm joined today by Paula Hood, co-director of the Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project.And as I mentioned last week, I am looking for volunteers to help with produce the show! That means help hosting, researching, editing, whatever! No experience necessary.To learn more, or if you have feedback, guest ideas, etc, you can email coastrangeradio@gmail.com.Show Notes:BMBP Action Alert: https://bluemountainsbiodiversityproject.org/2025/09/06/action-alert-for-blue-mountains-forest-plan-revision-scoping-comments/BMBP Vision for the Blues: https://bluemountainsbiodiversityproject.org/2025/08/04/an-overarching-vision-for-the-blue-mountains-forest-plan-revision/https://www.instagram.com/coastrangeradio/
For many people, a personal connection to the ocean ties into bigger issues like conservation and climate change. As the biodiversity of marine life along the coast at La Jolla Shores has declined, divers and researchers discuss why simply knowing about environmental problems isn't enough. They emphasize the importance of conservation psychology, storytelling, and inspiration to encourage action. This video was created by graduate students in Marine Biodiversity & Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. [Science] [Show ID: 41072]
La biodiversité soutient des écosystèmes sains et résilients. Sa perte menace la sécurité alimentaire, la santé humaine et l'équilibre écologique global. Traduction :Biodiversity supports healthy, resilient ecosystems. Its loss threatens food security, human health, and the overall ecological balance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Maximize Your Hunt, host Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discusses strategies for maximizing hunting success through effective land management and habitat improvement. He shares insights on deer behavior, the importance of soil and water management, and the need for biodiversity in ecosystems. The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding the dynamics of the landscape and creating productive environments for wildlife. takeaways Deer behavior is influenced by environmental conditions and hunting culture. Understanding the pecking order among deer can aid in hunting strategies. Quality management of deer populations involves monitoring age classes and ratios. Designing landscapes for hunting requires a holistic approach to ecology. Soil health and water management are critical for productive habitats. Biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience and supports wildlife. Natural methods of land management can yield better results than chemical interventions. Creating organized chaos in landscapes can benefit wildlife habitats. Simpler management systems can be more effective than complex monocultures. Engaging with the community and sharing knowledge can enhance hunting success. Social Links https://whitetaillandscapes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/ https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ben Lamm is CEO and Co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, the world's first de-extinction company. Colossal has raised more than $400 million at a valuation north of $10 billion to bring back extinct species using synthetic biology and genetic engineering. Just this year, the company unveiled the first dire wolves born in 12,000 years, created woolly mice with mammoth-like fur, and remains on track to see woolly mammoth calves by 2028.This conversation explores Colossal's end-to-end platform approach, from ancient DNA recovery to multiplex genome editing, and why Ben sees de-extinction not just as science fiction come true but as a venture-scale business that spins out companies, partners with governments, and raises profound ethical questions. We cover polarizing public reactions, the conservation potential of rewilding keystone species, and how synthetic biology and AI are accelerating breakthroughs once thought impossible.Episode recorded on Aug 20, 2025 (Published on Sept 23, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [04:14] An overview of Colossal[05:47] The company's dire wolf pups debut[10:51] Reasons behind de-extinction[11:49] Mammoth vs. thylacine vs. dodo challenges[18:40] How Ben co-founded a bioscience company[20:56] George Church and Colossal's origin story[22:40] The “why” behind bringing back the mammoth[27:42] Colossal's biodiversity credit carbon model[28:43] Trade-offs between rewilding existing species vs extinct[31:35] Colossal's multifaceted business model[33:58] The company's plastic-eating enzyme spinout[37:57] Colossal's unique speed of R&D[40:38] The Colossal Foundation[42:29] Ben's pov on our moral obligation to transparency Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
In this episode of Maximize Your Hunt, host Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discusses strategies for maximizing hunting success through effective land management and habitat improvement. He shares insights on deer behavior, the importance of soil and water management, and the need for biodiversity in ecosystems. The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding the dynamics of the landscape and creating productive environments for wildlife.takeawaysDeer behavior is influenced by environmental conditions and hunting culture.Understanding the pecking order among deer can aid in hunting strategies.Quality management of deer populations involves monitoring age classes and ratios.Designing landscapes for hunting requires a holistic approach to ecology.Soil health and water management are critical for productive habitats.Biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience and supports wildlife.Natural methods of land management can yield better results than chemical interventions.Creating organized chaos in landscapes can benefit wildlife habitats.Simpler management systems can be more effective than complex monocultures.Engaging with the community and sharing knowledge can enhance hunting success. Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Benji Jones, senior environmental correspondent at Vox, shares his reporting on how cities like New York can nurture threatened species, including monarch butterflies.