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In this episode, Rachel sits down with frequent contributor Cory Gaines of the Colorado Accountability Project. They're talking open records, State Land Board shenanigans, and the part of Colorado The Nature Conservancy wants to get their mitts on.This episode is brought to you by the generous support of Adam Rose at Iliff Custom Cabinetry. Find him at www.iliffcustomcabinetry.com or on The Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/icucab/. If you see Adam, please let him know you heard about him here.As always, check your cows, check your fields, and check your neighbors.
Carli Kierstead is the Forest Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming, where she leads efforts to understand and restore some of the West's most critical—and often overlooked—ecosystems. From beetle kill and wildfire to drought, Wyoming's forests face a range of challenges that ripple far beyond the state's borders. These high-country forests are the headwaters of several major river basins, providing water to millions of people across the American West. In this conversation, Carli and I dig into the past, present, and future of Western forests—how management philosophies have evolved over the decades, what's threatening their health today, and what can be done to make them more resilient in a changing climate. We talk about her team's groundbreaking work using snowtography—a deceptively simple but powerful way to study how forest structure affects snowpack and water supply—and how those findings could help guide future restoration across the Colorado River Basin. Carli also shares her personal journey from growing up in San Diego to finding her calling in Wyoming's wide-open landscapes, her insights on collaboration and trust-building in conservation, and a few book recommendations that shaped her path. It's a hopeful, science-grounded conversation about water, forests, and how collaboration can shape a more resilient future for the West. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoy! --- Carli Kierstead Wyoming forests + TNC Snowtography short film Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/carli-kierstead/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:34 – Intro and Wyoming forest health 7:16 – Beetle issues 8:30 – Why forest health? 12:35 – Economic benefit of forests 16:28 – Wyoming's claim to water 17:10 – Snowtography 23:18 – Lessons from the snow 27:33 – On the ground impact 33:53 – How it scales 40:42 – Relationship building 46:08 – The tendrils of the Colorado River Basin 46:46 – Carli's environment obsession 52:01 – How to build a relationship 55:10 – Book recs 58:38 – Last thoughts --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
O Brasil se prepara para a COP-30, em Belém, e a agricultura regenerativa está no centro das atenções. No bate-papo com o jornalista Eduardo Geraque, Filipe Teixeira, diretor da Syngenta Brasil, explica como iniciativas como o programa Reverte, criado em parceria com a The Nature Conservancy e o Itaú BBA, estão recuperando áreas degradadas e transformando o Cerrado em exemplo de sustentabilidade. Entenda o papel da agricultura regenerativa e as oportunidades para o Brasil na transição para um futuro climático mais equilibrado.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
And Another Thing With Dave, by Dave SmithPodcast Summary: "And Another Thing With Dave" - Episode with Porkchop and Hellitutor (Part 4 of 4)In the final installment of this four-part series, Dave Smith engages with Porkchop and Hellitutor, wrapping up their extensive discussion on international relations, historical context, and the implications of current events. Key topics discussed include:The Financial Motives Behind Wars: The conversation highlights how financial interests drive U.S. involvement in wars, with weapons manufacturers profiting from conflicts and companies like BlackRock benefiting from reconstruction contracts.Historical Context of U.S. Involvement: The group reflects on the U.S.'s historical role in World War II, discussing how the U.S. initially profited from the war by supplying arms and materials before officially entering the conflict after the attack on Pearl Harbor.The Nature of International Justice: They question the legitimacy of the U.S. and Israel's lack of participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC) despite their historical involvement in the Nuremberg Trials, suggesting a disconnect between past actions and current policies.The Role of Oligarchs: The discussion turns to the influence of Russian oligarchs in U.S. politics, particularly how they may have shaped Trump's financial dealings and political connections, raising concerns about the intertwining of money and politics.Local vs. Global Food Production: The podcast addresses the importance of local food production and the detrimental effects of corporate interests on sustainable farming, particularly in light of recent closures of local dairies due to land grabs by organizations like the Nature Conservancy.Environmental Policies: They discuss how environmental decisions, such as reintroducing native species, can have unintended consequences on local agriculture and community livelihoods, questioning the motives behind such policies.General Discontent with Current Systems: The conversation reflects a broader frustration with the current political and economic systems, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and a focus on local solutions to global problems.Thank you for tuning in!If you are digging what I am doing, and picking up what I'm putting down, please follow, subscribe, and share the podcast on social media and with friends. Reviews are greatly appreciated. You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.Links below Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/and-another-thing-with-dave/id1498443271Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1HLX3dqSQgeWZNXVZ1Z4EC?Thanks again!!!#aatwd #andanotherthing #davesmith #podcast #conspiracies #truther #politics #uspolitics #truthseeker #andanotherthgingwithdave #USA #usa #Australia #australia #Ireland #ireland #India #india #Germany #germany #uk #UK #United Kingdom #united kingdom #Canada #canada#USForeignPolicy #InternationalCriminalCourt#WWIIHistory #LocalFoodProduction#EnvironmentalPolicies #CorporateInterests#FinancialMotives #OligarchInfluence #NurembergTrials#DarkMoneyPolitics
In this episode of It's in Our Nature, host Adam McLane kicks off Season 2 with a deep dive into the complex role of dams in Missouri's waterways. Joined by Rob Hunt (Director of Resilient Waters for The Nature Conservancy), Ange Corson (Streams Program Coordinator with the Missouri Department of Conservation) and Eric Rahm (Stream Biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation) the conversation explores when dams help ecosystems and when they harm them. Topics include innovative beaver dam analogs that restore stream health, the science behind fish passage and dam removal, and how these projects benefit both nature and local communities. From research in the Grand River Grasslands to success stories of ecological recovery in the Ozarks, this episode reveals how collaboration and creativity are shaping the future of Missouri's rivers.
A pecuária extensiva é o principal vetor da devastação da Amazônia: entre 80% e 90% das áreas desmatadas são convertidas em pasto para o gado, segundo diferentes estudos de instituições de referência, como Mapbiomas. Nos holofotes do mundo por sediar a Conferência da ONU sobre Mudanças Climáticas (COP30), o país ainda engatinha em implementar a rastreabilidade da cadeia bovina, etapa fundamental para evitar que mais árvores sejam derrubadas para a produção de carne. Lúcia Müzell, enviada especial da RFI a Belém, Novo Repartimento e Assentamento Tuerê (Pará) Sede da maior reunião do mundo sobre a crise climática, o Pará – segundo maior produtor do Brasil, atrás do Mato Grosso – quer dar o exemplo e adota o primeiro programa de rastreabilidade do gado na Amazônia. O plano é que, até 2027, todo o rebanho estará com o chip na orelha, dando acesso ao trânsito completo de um animal desde o nascimento até chegar à prateleira do supermercado. Do ponto de vista ambiental, a informação crucial é saber se, em alguma etapa, o boi passou por áreas ilegalmente desmatadas. O controle do início da cadeia é o principal desafio para o sucesso do programa – e envolve centenas de milhares de pequenos produtores, espalhados pelo estado. Desde 2013, o Pará ultrapassou o Mato Grosso e está no topo da lista dos que mais devastam a Amazônia. “Para lhe falar a verdade, vontade de desmatar, eu tenho muita. Muita mesmo”, disse à RFI o agricultor familiar Adelson Alves da Silva Torres. Há 25 anos, ele deixou o Maranhão e chegou ao Pará, atraído pela promessa de uma vida melhor. Há 19, conseguiu um lote de 25 hectares no Assentamento Tuerê, conhecido como o maior da América Latina, no leste do estado. Nesta região, a pressão do desmatamento para a pecuária já devastou praticamente tudo que havia de floresta. Produtividade baixa impulsiona mais desmatamento Na maioria das vezes, os rebanhos ocupam vastas áreas, em lugares remotos, com produtividade muito baixa: menos de um boi por hectare. Na Europa, em países como Holanda, o índice chega a sete. Mas num país extenso como o Brasil, é mais barato abrir novas áreas de pastagem do que conservar as que já existem, com manejo adequado do pasto, do solo e do próprio gado. O desafio é ainda maior para os pequenos produtores, de até 100 animais. No Pará, 67% dos pecuaristas se enquadram nesta categoria. O carro-chefe da roça de Adelson sempre foi a agricultura: cacau, banana, mandioca. Nos últimos anos, voltou a criar gado e hoje tem dez cabeças. A diferença é que, desta vez, ele está recebendo orientação técnica para produzir mais, no mesmo espaço de terra. “Através dessas reuniões que eu tenho participado, eu resolvi deixar [a mata]. Até na serra, eu não posso mexer”, garantiu. “Se tivesse como o governo ajudar a gente no manejo dentro de uma área pequena, com a cerca elétrica, dividir tudo direitinho. Mas, para isso, nós, que somos pobres, nós não aguentamos. Se fosse assim, não precisava desmatar.” Mudança de mentalidade Convencer os agricultores de que dá para produzir mais sem derrubar a floresta é um trabalho de formiguinha. “É uma região muito desafiadora. São famílias que estão lutando no seu dia a dia, buscando a sua independência financeira, sua regularização fundiária e ambiental”, explica Leonardo Dutra, coordenador de projetos do Programa da Amazônia da Fundação Solidaridad, que atua há 10 anos em municípios na rodovia Transamazônica. A entidade ensina técnicas de agropecuária sustentável e ajuda os pequenos produtores a se regularizarem à luz do novo Código Florestal, adotado em 2012. “É um desafio porque são famílias que têm uma cultura longeva, com determinado tipo de trabalho, e a gente precisa avançar nessas técnicas para que elas assimilem, ano após ano. A gente costuma trazer lideranças de outras regiões que já conhecem o nosso trabalho, e aí a gente começa a ganhar confiança deles.” Do total da carne produzida no Brasil, 43% vem da Amazônia Legal, segundo levantamento do Imazon (Instituto do Homem e Meio Ambiente da Amazônia). A produção é profundamente fragmentada: entre o nascimento e o abate, o boi pode passar por três proprietários diferentes – e apenas a última etapa, a do fornecedor direto para o frigorífico, tem fiscalização ambiental rigorosa no país. Isso significa que milhares de produtores em condição irregular conseguem revender os animais para fornecedores "limpos", que comercializam com os grandes frigoríficos. É a chamada lavagem de gado. “A gente ainda não está em plenas condições de garantir que temos controle sobre isso”, afirma Camila Trigueiro, analista de pesquisa do Imazon, instituto especializado em desenvolvimento sustentável, em Belém. “Se a gente conseguir identificar todos os animais, a origem deles, tornar isso transparente, a gente consegue trazer para a sociedade e para as empresas que estão adquirindo esses animais a informação de que existe esse produtor, ele está comercializando o gado, e você deve verificar o status socioambiental dele – que é algo que a gente ainda não consegue fazer.” ‘Brinco' na orelha do gado ainda ainda é exceção Atualmente, o único estado brasileiro que oferece a identificação da cadeia bovina é Santa Catarina, implementada há mais de 15 anos para o controle da febre aftosa. No âmbito federal, primeiro Plano Nacional de Identificação Individual de Bovinos e Búfalos foi lançado no fim de 2024, mas o prazo de implementação é extenso, até o fim de 2032. “A identificação individual tem um potencial muito grande de colocar a produção pecuária do Brasil num caminho de maior sustentabilidade. Mas para isso acontecer, você tem que trazer os produtores para junto porque, no fim das contas, quem vai fazer a transição e vai realizar as ações necessárias, botar o brinco no boi, fazer o processo de regularização ambiental, fazer o isolamento das áreas desmatadas, são os produtores”, destaca Bruno Vello, coordenador de políticas públicas do Imaflora (Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola). “Tem que ser viável para eles, em termos de custos, principalmente.” No Pará, estimativas de organizações da sociedade civil, como a The Nature Conservancy, indicam que cerca da metade do gado sai de áreas irregulares, com passivos ambientais e fundiários. O governo estadual não desmente e afirma que, destes, 50% poderão voltar para o mercado formal por meio de um novo protocolo de regularização de pequenos e médios produtores. O dispositivo inclui a obrigação de reflorestamento de áreas ilegalmente desmatadas. “Mais da metade deles estão em propriedades cujo desmatamento ilegal representa menos de 10% do tamanho total da propriedade. São propriedades que tendem a buscar a regularização porque o prejuízo delas é muito grande frente ao tamanho do passivo”, aposta o secretário do Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade (Semas), Raul Protazio Romão, que antes de assumir o cargo, era procurador do Estado. “O custo-benefício de essa propriedade se regularizar é muito maior.” Vulnerabilidades atrasam aplicação O produtor Wanderlan Sousa Damasceno, no Assentamento Tuerê, pode se enquadrar nesta situação: já recuperou áreas desmatadas ilegalmente e, nos cinco hectares onde cria 100 cabeças de gado, investiu em infraestrutura para fazer manejo com pastagem rotacionada, mais produtiva. Em um ano, o goiano conseguiu chegar a cinco animais por hectare. Mas as próximas etapas do processo, a identificação individual do rebanho, lhe causam uma certa apreensão. “Tem que ver também como é que funciona, porque às vezes a gente quer, mas não dá conta. Chegar lá e tem esses problemas de queimada”, relata. Na tentativa de se regularizar, Wanderlan se deparou com a informação de que existe um registro de uma queimada que, segundo ele, não aconteceu. “E aí como é que eu vou fazer, se eu moro aqui há tantos anos? Fui eu que abri isso aqui. Eu não tenho uma queimada de 2008 para cá”, garante. “Eu sou um cara analfabeto. A gente fica até com medo do mundo que a gente vive hoje, com as leis chegando. É complicado para nós.” Recursos para a implementação E tem ainda a situação da segunda metade dos produtores em situação ilegal, incluindo os que invadem terras indígenas, unidades de conservação ou outras terras públicas para criar gado. Nestes casos, a fiscalização e as multas deverão aumentar, assegura o secretário Protazio, e o custo da ilegalidade tende a ser ainda maior quando o programa de rastreabilidade sair do papel. O orçamento para reforçar as autuações, entretanto, ainda é vago. Mais servidores estão sendo contratados pela Agência de Defesa Agropecuária do Pará (Adepará), responsável pela implementação do programa do ponto de vista sanitário, e a frota de veículos da agência para percorrer o estado está sendo renovada. O desafio é imenso: com uma superfície mais extensa do que o dobro de um país como a França, o Pará tem 90 mil famílias que trabalham na pecuária, com um rebanho que chega a 26 milhões de cabeças de gado. As autuações cabem tanto à Secretaria Estadual do Meio Ambiente, quanto a órgãos federais, como o Ibama (Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis) e o ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade). A despeito de não apresentar números específicos sobre como essa fiscalização será ampliada, o secretário do Meio Ambiente pega o exemplo do esforço feito pelo estado no combate ao desmatamento, que caiu pela metade desde 2019. “Nós decuplicamos a força de combate ao desmatamento. O estado tinha dez fiscais, para o estado inteiro. Nós fomos para 100 fiscais”, defende. “Não só fiscais, como veículos, drones, impressoras. Todo o aparato necessário para essa fiscalização acontecer”, complementa. O maior frigorífico do país, a JBS, é parceiro do programa: financia parcialmente a compra dos “brincos” para pequenos produtores e das máquinas usadas para ler as informações. Em outubro, cerca de 180 cabeças de gado já estavam registradas, ou menos de 1% do total do rebanho estadual. “A programação para que tudo isso aconteça está no papel. O programa é factível, ele tem potencial para acontecer”, avalia Camila Trigueiro, do Imazon. “O que é necessário é que sejam direcionados recursos para que as fases que foram planejadas sejam de fato executadas.” Resistência em campo e cruzamento de informações Em campo, a resistência dos produtores é outra barreira a ser vencida. Não à toa, na hora de conversar com os pecuaristas para explicar o programa da identificação individual, o governo do estado prefere a abordagem sanitária, focada nos benefícios para o controle de doenças no rebanho, em vez do viés ambiental do projeto. Uma associação de produtores rurais “independentes da Amazônia” chegou a entrar na Justiça para questionar o plano, alegando que ele “desvirtuou a finalidade sanitária e comercial” para ter objetivos “ambientalistas”. Jamir Macedo, diretor-geral da Adepará reconhece as dificuldades. “Quando a gente implementou o programa, muita fake news e muita desinformação circulou no Estado. Essas matérias negativas correm muito mais rápido que a verdadeira informação”, aponta. “As nossas idas a campo desmistificam isso. A gente mostra a realidade para o produtor, com muito pé no chão, sem prometer mundos e fundos.” As informações não estão obrigatoriamente comparadas aos dados ambientais da propriedade, como a validação do Cadastro Ambiental Rural (CAR) – que atesta a produção isenta de desmatamento ilegal. Sem o cruzamento sistemático desses dados, a eficiência do programa no combate ao desmatamento fica limitada. Custo alto e a desigualdade no campo Segundo Macedo, as propriedades com mais de mil cabeças já tendem a adotar a identificação individual para a gestão do rebanho. Para os pequenos produtores, o maior freio é o custo da regularização. “É um processo bastante longo. Exige diversas etapas e uma certa expertise técnica da parte do proprietário, de identificar com precisão essas áreas, o uso de imagens de satélite, e também exige o isolamento das áreas que estão desmatadas. Ou seja, é um processo que é caro”, reitera Bruno Vello, do Imaflora. “Num país que é muito desigual, a viabilidade disso para os produtores, a capacidade de arcar com esses custos, ela também é desigual. Grandes produtores, que possuem mais capital, conseguem arcar com os custos de transição e fazer isso de uma maneira mais autônoma. Pequenos produtores, agricultores familiares, precisam de apoio para conseguir fazer essa transição”, complementa. O governo paraense fornece e aplica gratuitamente o dispositivo para os donos de até 100 cabeças de gado. Maria Gorete Rios, agricultora familiar em Novo Repartimento, foi a primeira da região a ter o seu rastreado. “A gente já fazia um mínimo de controle: tu enumeravas o gado e marcavas a ferro. Só que para o comércio de couro não é legal”, recorda. “Quando vem um brinco com a numeração, fica tranquilo, e não tem maus-tratos dos animais”, comenta. Depois de um demorado processo para regularizar a propriedade, comprada há 11 anos, ela começou a criar gado. Foram três anos vendendo seus animais para atravessadores, até que, em 2024, ela fez a primeira venda direta para a JBS. “O atravessador compra da gente para vender para o frigorífico. Então por que não eu me organizar, fazer a documentação, tudo bonitinho, e vender direto para o frigorifico?”, conclui. Exigência dos mercados: UE e, no futuro, China? Gorete vê a rastreabilidade como um caminho sem volta, num mercado que, pouco a pouco, se torna mais exigente. A Lei Antidesmatamento da União Europeia, que proíbe os países do bloco de comprarem produtos cultivados em áreas desmatadas ilegalmente, inclusive no exterior, foi a primeira a exigir a rastreabilidade dos parceiros comerciais dos europeus, como o Brasil. Hoje, o único estado da Amazônia Legal que exporta para a União Europeia é o Mato Grosso, mas o Pará pode comercializar gado para o vizinho – o que ilustra outro grande desafio para o país, a movimentação dos animais entre os estados. A expectativa é que a China, maior cliente da carne bovina brasileira, não demore a também aumentar os padrões ambientais da carne que compra do exterior. Em um relatório de 2022, o Conselho Chinês para Cooperação Internacional em Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (CCICED) indica que Pequim considerando medidas "para evitar que a importação de commodities agrícolas esteja ligada à conversão de ecossistemas naturais no exterior". “A China pode ser uma grande influência para o Brasil conseguir implementar esse programa, porque praticamente todos os estados que exportam carne bovina têm habilitação para exportar para a China”, aposta Camila Trigueiro. “Se vier dela mais exigências sobre o aspecto socioambiental, acredito que o Brasil vai se movimentar de maneira acelerada para atender, como fez no passado, para evitar vaca louca.” Mesmo assim, em volta da propriedade da Gorete, a maioria dos vizinhos ainda não está convencida. Segundo ela, muitos temem só poder comercializar com quem tiver gado “brincado”, e preferem esperar para entrar no programa só mais perto do prazo final para a identificação individual do rebanho, em 2027. Ao mesmo tempo em que a hesitação persiste na região, a vizinhança amarga os impactos das mudanças climáticas na agropecuária. O desmatamento aumenta o calor na Amazônia e a adaptação ao novo clima já é uma realidade para os produtores rurais. “De uns dois anos para cá, não é a maioria, mas tem muita gente preservando. Tem muita gente sentindo na pele e tendo que preservar para poder se manter nessa atividade, porque senão não vai dar”, constata. “Se você não vai ter pasto, não vai ter água para os animais, vai viver como? Já tem produtor perdendo animais por falta de chuva. A gente tira a vegetação e paga as consequências disso.” * Esta é a quinta e última reportagem da série Caminhos para uma Amazônia sustentável, do podcast Planeta Verde. As reportagens foram parcialmente financiadas pelo Imaflora.
Today's headlines include: Queensland nurses and midwives will receive annual pay increases after the union voted to approve a new agreement with the State Government. The Prime Minister’s plane has made an emergency landing on its way back to Australia from the U.S, after a mid-air medical incident involving a crew member. Negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine are in doubt, with a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump postponed indefinitely. And today’s good news: Researchers with the Nature Conservancy have put forward a solution to end the algal bloom in South Australia and prevent future marine disasters. Hosts: Emma Gillspie and Lucy TassellProducer: Emma Gillespie Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify or Apple and to leave us a five-star review. We would be so grateful. The Daily Aus is a media company focused on delivering accessible and digestible news to young people. We are completely independent. Want more from TDA?Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSubscribe to The Daily Aus’ YouTube Channel Have feedback for us?We’re always looking for new ways to improve what we do. If you’ve got feedback, we’re all ears. Tell us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
→ Join our community on Patreon - "The Holler" For thousands of years, fire shaped the Ozarks: clearing land, nourishing native plants, and creating the vibrant ecosystems once teeming with quail, wildflowers, and red-headed woodpeckers. But sometime around 1920, everything changed. .. In this episode, we sit down with McRee Anderson with The Nature Conservancy, to talk about the history of fire in the Ozarks, what the landscape looked like before fire suppression, and how controlled burns are helping to restore the balance. Our Trusted partners for this episode: Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars Maverik - Adventure's first stop in the Ozarks Big Pete's Taxidermy - High-quality work with quick turnaround Pack Rat Outdoor Center - Everything you need to start your next adventure 00:00 History of fire on the landscape 15:30 What happened in 1920? 30:00 Benefits of adding fire to the landscape What is The Ozark Podcast? In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker. Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett - and our producer is Daniel Matthews Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
Ohio's water is one of its most valuable resources—critical for the state's health, environment, and economy. From reducing toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie to improving aging sewer and pipe systems and addressing polluted runoff, the stakes are immense. H2Ohio—a bipartisan clean water initiative launched in 2019—has made clear progress through collaboration with farmers, conservationists, and local governments. But a budget reduction this year to the initiative of nearly 40% could slow or scale back some of these projects, prompting discussion among policymakers, environmental groups, and community leaders about the best path forward. What's at stake isn't just clean water—it's Ohio's health, environment, and long-term economic future. Featuring: Dontavius Jarrells, Representative, 1st District, Ohio State House of Representatives Paula Powell, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Adam Sharp, Executive Vice President, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Bill Stanley, State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Ohio The host is Carol Kauffman, CEO, The Ohio Environmental Council This forum was sponsored by Burgess & Niple, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, The Alliance for the Great Lakes, The Green Funds of The Columbus Foundation, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and The Ohio Environmental Council. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Want to keep learning about this topic? Check out "The Last Drop: Solving the World's Water Crisis" by Tim Smedley, recommended by our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library.
On the phone-in: Anthony Taylor who's an associate professor of Forest Ecology and Management at the University of New Brunswick, shares advice for managing your woodlot in an era of climate change. And off the top of the show, Lanna Campbell from the Nature Conservancy of Canada on PEI talks about a plan to preserve land near Murray Harbour.
Brad Johnson is the Senior Regenerative Agriculture Advisor for The Nature Conservancy, where he helps farmers across Idaho and beyond explore new ways of working the land that build healthier soils, stronger operations, and more resilient communities. Brad's path into this work is deeply personal—he grew up on a multi-generational farm in northern Idaho, where as a teenager he saw firsthand how no-till practices could dramatically reduce erosion on the steep, fertile hills of his family's farm. That early “aha moment” set him on a winding path through farming, ranching, research, and even a stint in agricultural sales, before eventually joining TNC in 2019. In this conversation, Brad and I dig into the practical realities of regenerative agriculture—what it looks like on the ground, why it's both promising and challenging to scale, and how trust and relationships are every bit as important as science and technology. He shares stories from TNC's demonstration farms, where producers are experimenting with new biological practices that reduce reliance on fungicides and pesticides, and from high school programs where the next generation of Idaho farmers are already putting regenerative methods into practice. Brad's perspective is grounded in lived experience and a genuine respect for the farmers he works with. Whether you're deep in the ag world or simply curious about how food systems can adapt to a changing climate, this episode offers a clear, hopeful look at what's possible when conservation and agriculture work hand in hand. --- Brad Johnson Regenerative Farming at TNC Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/brad-johnson/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:47 - Intro, 100 years in Idaho 4:52 - Bluegrass sod and Idaho's land 6:53 - No-till drill 9:43 - Buying into no-till 10:54 - From no-till to regenerative 11:40 - Brad's farmer life pre-TNC 14:45 - The TNC introduction 18:46 - Roadblocks to switching to regenerative 20:52 - Examples of regenerative farms 22:54 - Spray to no-spray 28:05 - Another regeneration demonstration farm 31:04 - Success stories 33:27 - Working with a high school 36:34 - Scalability 39:32 - Building trust 41:09 - Looking forward and first steps 43:57 - Podcast recs 45:43 - Wrapping up --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
What happens after you flush? Most of us don't think about it—but maybe we should. In this eye-opening episode, we dive into one of the ocean's biggest but least discussed threats: wastewater pollution.Join us as we talk with Jos Hill, Program Director for The Nature Conservancy's Wastewater Pollution Program and creator of the groundbreaking podcast "waste(d)water." Jos reveals the shocking scale of this crisis: 80% of wastewater worldwide is inadequately treated, 58% of coral reefs are exposed to wastewater pollution, and wastewater accounts for a staggering 40% of coastal nutrient pollution—nearly as much as agriculture.Discover how even highly treated wastewater can devastate marine ecosystems, why coral disease outbreaks in the Florida Keys have been traced back to human gut pathogens, and how nutrient-rich wastewater is making coral reefs more vulnerable to marine heat waves and climate change.But this isn't just doom and gloom—Jos shares inspiring recovery stories from Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii and Tampa Bay in Florida, proving that when pollution is addressed, ecosystems can bounce back. Learn about innovative nature-based solutions, including treatment gardens that clean water while growing food for coastal communities.From the intersection of wastewater pollution and social justice to practical steps you can take in your own community, this conversation breaks the taboo around a topic that affects every person on the planet. As Jos reminds us: everyone goes to the toilet, so this issue is relevant to everyone.It's time to start talking about the dirty secret of ocean pollution—because we can't solve problems we won't discuss.Featured Guest: Jos Hill, Program Director, Wastewater Pollution Program, The Nature ConservancyLearn more: Check out the waste(d)water podcast and follow @wastedwaterpod wherever you listen to podcasts.
[In Portuguese] Episódio 4 | O Caminho para a COP30 – Uma Série com a The Nature Conservancy No quarto episódio da nossa série de seis partes, conversamos com Lisa Ferguson, Diretora de Economias Regenerativas e Finanças Comunitárias da The Nature Conservancy, e Juliana Simões, Gerente Adjunta de Estratégia para Povos Indígenas e Comunidades Locais.
Too often, vision and values work ends up as lofty statements that don't translate into daily practice. But when it's done well, it can transform how teams collaborate, make decisions, and connect to a shared purpose. In this episode of On Connection, we're joined by Trisha Moslin from The Nature Conservancy's Gift Planning team, who helped lead an effort to co-create a vision and values that went beyond words on a page. Together, we explore what made their approach successful, how leadership shaped the process, and why the results have endured—strengthening both team culture and their ability to advance TNC's mission for the long term.Guest Bio: Trisha MoslinTrisha Moslin is the Director of Strategy and Planning in the Gift Planning department at The Nature Conservancy. She ensures strategic alignment and continued focus on priorities, works to improve communication and cross-team integration, advises and supports the department lead and management team, and manages cross-functional projects. She led the collaborative creation of TNC Gift Planning's Vision and Values and works to ensure they're integrated into the department's work. Before joining TNC in 2019, she spent 15 years in international development, including as a Peace Corps volunteer. She holds an MPH in Reproductive Health and Population Studies from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health and a BBA magna cum laude in Marketing with an International Business minor from Texas A&M University. She's traveled to 26 countries and 30 U.S. states, plays a lot of tennis, and is always in the middle of several books.
Episode 4 | The Road to COP30 – A Series with The Nature Conservancy In the fourth episode of our six-part series, we sit down with Lisa Ferguson, Director of Regenerative Economies & Community Finance for The Nature Conservancy, and Juliana Simões, Deputy Manager, Indigenous People & Local Community Strategy.
Grownups, we've partnered with our friends at Aspen Institute, Geocaching, and Nature Conservancy to encourage the Wowzers in your life to learn how to better take care of our planet by exploring places that WOW! Visit tinkercast.com/planetwow to learn more about our trailblazing, audio-filled, adventure-packed GeoTour to uncover geocaches filled with trackable Planet Wow! trading cards and more WOW surprises! And don't forget to call us at 1-888-7WOW-WOW to share the places on our planet that make you say "WOW!"See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Real Food Recovery, a podcast created by two lifelong processed food addicts with over 100 years of addiction (and recovery) between them. Paige Alexander and Jamie Morgan Reno use their Real Food Recovery podcast and social media channels to share their struggles, lessons learned, tools, tips, and resources that freed them from decades of food addiction, obsession, and loss. Join us as we dive into environmental health with Carring Denning Jackson. Carrie is the Founder of Place as Medicine, an organization dedicated to building a healthier environment, from our homes to our neighborhoods and the broader world. Her mission is to share knowledge, elevate conversations, build healthy places, and drive change. Although she always recognized the importance of access to nature, physical activity, and social spaces, her perspective shifted after becoming a mother. Despite her 15-plus years in the industry, she was not fully aware of the profound connection between our living environment and our health. Carrie has spent her career working to enhance the places where we live, with roles at IBM Smarter Cities, Google's urban innovation team, Sidewalk Labs, and Jamestown LP, a global real estate investment and management company, where she leads their Innovation + Sustainability teams. She holds a BA, MA, and MBA from Stanford University and is on the board of the New York State chapter of The Nature Conservancy. In every Real Food Recovery episode, Paige and Jamie take time to answer viewer questions about processed food addiction, obsession, and recovery. Be sure to submit your question on their YouTube Channel or Facebook Page. You can also follow Real Food Recovery on Instagram (@realfoodrecovery4u), TikTok (@realfoodrecovery), or at www.realfoodrecovery4u.com.
The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, Fidelity Investments Canada, and Nature Conservancy of Canada.Alright, you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! Back in July, when we had our immensely popular “The Chiefs” panel on the pod for the 8th time, I very casually mentioned: “maybe we should give you your own show.” Well, I'm chuffed to announce that while The Chiefs are far too busy and successful with their productive, real careers to slum it in podcast-land every week like me, they have agreed to appear regularly, every quarter here on The Herle Burly, to give us their governance wisdom! Today on show: We'll assess what each party tried to achieve post the election to the start of parliament. Were they successful? Prime Minister Carney's major projects, the upcoming budget, and thoughts on the big speech the PM needs to make.So, a big huzzah to The Chiefs – 3 former Chiefs of Staff to some of Canada's most accomplished heads of government:Ian Brodie – first Chief of Staff to Stephen Harper and central to the founding of the CPC. Now Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary, and Senior Advisor at New West Public Affairs.Brian Topp – former Chief of Staff to Rachel Notley in Alberta, Deputy Chief to Roy Romanow in Saskatchewan, a co-architect of Jack Layton's Orange Wave. Today he's a founding partner at GT&co.And, Tim Murphy – former Chief of Staff to Paul Martin. Now EVP and Chief Strategic Affairs Officer at AECON.Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.
Find out the difference between bison and buffalo...Amy and Darci talk with Dr. Elizabeth Bach from The Nature Conservancy about prairie restoration at Nachusa Grasslands. From reintroducing bison to boosting biodiversity, the conversation explores how science, history, and community come together to restore Illinois' tallgrass prairie. Resources to learn moreNachusa GrasslandsResearch by moonlight: Study shows bison alter ‘landscape of fear' for rodents in grasslandsPlant and bird responses to bison grazing at Nachusa GrasslandsGrassland Restoration NetworkInvertebrate responses to bison grazing and prescribed fire management (research article)Share your own Everyday ObservationWas there something about this topic we didn't cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives
Episode 3 | The Road to COP30 – A Series with The Nature ConservancyFreshwater is the Amazon's lifeblood—nourishing millions of people, sustaining diverse fisheries, and regulating global climate patterns. Yet these critical ecosystems are under mounting pressure from deforestation, pollution, and climate change.In this third episode of our six-part series, we sit down with Flavia Rocha Loures, Global Freshwater Policy Advisor for The Nature Conservancy, and Fernanda Silva, Amazon Freshwater Fisheries Scientist.
Episode 3 | The Road to COP30 – A Series with The Nature Conservancy Freshwater is the Amazon's lifeblood—nourishing millions of people, sustaining diverse fisheries, and regulating global climate patterns. Yet these critical ecosystems are under mounting pressure from deforestation, pollution, and climate change. In this third episode of our six-part series, we sit down with Flavia Rocha Loures, Global Freshwater Policy Advisor for The Nature Conservancy, and Fernanda Silva, Amazon Freshwater Fisheries Scientist.
Episode 2 | The Road to COP30 – A Series with The Nature Conservancy Deforestation remains one of the most urgent challenges in the global fight against climate change. At the center of this crisis is the Amazon—the world's largest rainforest and one of Latin America's most vital ecosystems. In this second episode of our six-part series, we sit down with José Otavio Passos, Director of the Brazilian Amazon for The Nature Conservancy, to unpack the forces driving deforestation—and the solutions that can turn the tide.
Curse of Politics was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, the Canadian Climate Institute, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Canadian Bankers Association.David Herle, Scott Reid, Jordan Leichnitz, and Kory Teneycke provide insights on the latest in Canadian politics.Thank you for joining us on #CurseOfPolitics. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch conversations from Curse of Politics via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.
Curse of Politics was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, the Canadian Climate Institute, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.David Herle, Scott Reid, Jordan Leichnitz, and Kory Teneycke provide insights on the latest in Canadian politics.Thank you for joining us on #CurseOfPolitics. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch conversations from Curse of Politics via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.
Coming August 2025 — The Road to COP30A six-episode podcast series in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy exploring the bold ideas and on-the-ground solutions shaping Latin America's path to COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
Mitti Labs is working with The Nature Conservancy to expand the use of climate-friendly rice farming practices in India. The startup uses its AI to verify reductions in methane emissions. In other news, Assort Health now valued at $750 million, is one of three that recently raised funding to use AI agents for helping healthcare practices answer patient calls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kelly Beevers is the Grazing Lands Partner Strategy Lead with The Nature Conservancy, where she helps guide collaborative efforts to support ranchers, strengthen communities, and conserve some of the most threatened ecosystems in North America. Based in Montana, Kelly has built her career at the intersection of real estate, land stewardship, and community-driven conservation—first working in commercial real estate, then private equity and consulting, before finding her home at TNC. Today, she leads TNC's work that champions rancher-led, peer-to-peer learning and innovation by strengthening, connecting, and activating all varieties of rancher networks. In this conversation, Kelly and I talk about her unlikely journey from Texas A&M finance classrooms to Montana ranch kitchen tables, and how those experiences shaped her approach to building authentic partnerships. We dig into the power of peer-to-peer rancher networks, why local knowledge and community leadership are essential for durable conservation, and how initiatives like Women in Ranching are reshaping the future of stewardship. Along the way, Kelly shares lessons from her career pivots, stories of on-the-ground innovation, and the hope she draws from the people she works with every day. She also offers a ton of excellent book recommendations, so be sure the check out the episode notes for links to everything. Kelly brings a rare mix of technical expertise, strategic vision, and deep human connection to her work, and I've had the privilege of calling her a friend for many years. It's been a joy to watch her career evolve, and I know listeners will take away both inspiration and practical insight from this conversation. Enjoy! --- Kelly Beevers Regenerative Grazing Lands at TNC Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/kelly-beevers/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:50 - Intro, Kelly's early real estate history 6:39 - Next steps after real estate 9:23 - What drew Kelly to the West 14:30 - Specializing in listening 19:49 - From a company of one to a national nonprofit 24:41 - Kelly's role at TNC 28:33 - Figuring out focus 36:23 - “All it took” 44:11 - How Kelly's work fits into the broader TNC picture 54:35 - Women in Ranching 1:00:11 - Earning hope 1:05:58 - Book recs 1:10:42 - Wrapping up --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
Forests thrive when people work together. In this episode, we talk with Kes Ebbs of The Nature Conservancy and Theresa Floberg of Dovetail Partners about partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to keep Northeastern Minnesota's woods healthy and resilient.Show Notes:Dovetail PartnersThe Nature Conservancy in MinnesotaSuperior National Forest
Even as efforts to transition Appalachia out of coal receive broad policy support, the fate of the landscape is ultimately driven by incumbent actors used to getting what they want. Dr Lindsay Shade and Dr Karen Rignall discuss their research about how legacies of land ownership frustrate equitable and effective transition strategies. While an "Abundance" argument suggests that "the Democratic fetish for legalistic procedure has in so many places, made it impossible to get stuff done," the afterlives of coal provides a stark reminder of the deeper powers that control what happens on the land. Confronting the legacies of landownership may be the only path to meaningful landscape transformation. Episode Links Dr Lindsay Shade Dr Karen Rignall Shade, L., Schwartzman, G., Rignall, K., Slovinsky, K., & Johnson, J. (2025). Afterlives of coal: land and transition dynamics in Central Appalachia. Environmental Research: Energy, 2(1), 015015. Also see: Shade, L., Rignall, K., Tarus, L., & Starr, C. (2025). The role of land in a just transition: the Appalachian Land Study collective. Environmental Research: Energy, 2(2), 025010. The ongoing Appalachian Land Study and the historic Appalachian Land Ownership Study Martin County solar project on the former Martiki mine The Cumberland Forest Project (The Nature Conservancy) Congressman Hal Rogers and prison development Carbon sequestration court case: Pocahontas Surface Interests and Forestland Group The Alliance for Appalachia The Appalachian Rekindling Project The Abundance critique of process The Heavens, by Sandra Newman Landscapes is produced by Adam Calo. A complete written transcript of the episode can be found on Adam's newsletter: Land Food Nexus. Send feedback or questions to adamcalo@substack.com or Bluesky Music by Blue Dot Sessions: “Kilkerrin” by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue). Podcast Guest Correction: "At minute 26.41 - 27.55 it is implied that The Nature Conservancy (TNC) acquired all 253,000 acres as a single parcel and that it all passed through Pocahontas Land Company and Heartwood Forestland Fund, and also that The Forestland Group "sold" land to the former. Heartwood Forestland Fund is managed by The Forestland Group and holds land under various subsidiaries. In the three states where TNC brokered land deals for the Cumberland Forest Project, the land is held by various LLC's that TNC controls, all of which purchased land from subsidiaries of either The Forestland Group or Molpus-Woodlands, two different timber investment management organizations (TIMO's). These TIMO's previously bought land and/or timber rights from various coal and natural resource landholding companies in the region, including Pocahontas. As we describe in our paper on p. 8, the trajectory of the land in our case study in East TN is as follows: the land was first consolidated by the 19th century British coal company and land speculation firm "The American Association Ltd," later sold to JM Huber Coal, and then to Molpus-Woodlands, before being acquired by Cumberland Forest LLC, which The Nature Conservancy has a controlling share and manages."
We'd love to hear from you about this episode.Humans have always found solace, support, and shared experience in our relationship with stories.Storytelling is deeply rooted in the human experience and has always played a critical role in our social, spiritual, and evolutionary development.The earliest form of human communication, storytelling, is a building block in how we learn, remember, process information and feelings, and build meaningful connections with others. Our experiences with nature have always been deeply interwoven into our stories.Our stories bout the natural world have created a sense of belonging, influenced our behaviors and philosophical perspectives, and inspired environmental stewardship.By observing and immersing themselves in the natural world, writers can find unique perspectives, vivid imagery, and deeper emotional connections for their stories.Welcome to Episode Sixty-Eight of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!! In this episode, we spoke with bestselling author and conservationist Steve Ramirez. After experiencing the healing power of nature, following a professional military and law enforcement career, Steve became a catalyst for helping others connect with nature and share in his desire to protect and respect the natural world. Join us as we talk to Steve about his strong connection to nature, the power of a well-told story in shaping human culture and behavior, and his desire to inspire others through his books to care for the planet proactively.Steve discusses some of the challenges facing both humanity and the environment, how he found healing on trails and in rivers, and how adversity can be a strong starting point for lifestyle change.Steve's story is definitely one we are excited to share.Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast. We appreciate you all.Be Well-NOW ™️ Steve's Website: https://www.steveramirezauthor.com/Steve's Instagram: @steveramirezuthorSIgned copies of Steve's books: https://www.bobwhitestudio.comTrout Unlimited: https://www.tu.org/The Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/en-us/* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan. *** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is an icon of the Prairies – an aerial acrobatist, singing and dancing in the sky. Jody Allair shares his love for this longspur, helping us understand why this charming species should be on everyone's life list. As he describes his road trip to seek out the Chestnut-collared Longspur earlier this spring, Jody offers helpful advice on how to find a rare bird – this advice can be applied anywhere, to find any species. And with all Wake-up Call episodes, we'll also learn about threats and challenges, and how you can help the Chestnut-collared Longspur. We touched very briefly on how purchasing grass-fed beef can help grassland species. For more depth on this topic, listen to our episode Grasslands, Birds and Beef. If you live in the Prairies, try seeking out local organizations that are doing work to help grasslands, such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Nature Saskatchewan. In Saskatchewan you can report Chestnut-collared Longspur sightings to 1-800-667-HOOT or outreach@naturesask.caJody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. He is the Director of Communications at Birds Canada and has written numerous articles on birds, birding and connecting with nature. You can find him on Bluesky and Instagram at @JodyAllair.Andrea Gress (she/her) secretly thinks Piping Plovers are better than all the other birds...studied Renewable Resource Management at the University of Saskatchewan. She pivoted towards birds, after an internship in South Africa. Upon returning, she worked with Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan, and then as the Ontario Piping Plover Coordinator. Years of sharing her love of plovers with beach goers has turned into a full time communications role with Birds Canada. Support the show
Discount link for upcoming webinar Matrix Planting Made Easy on Monday August 4 at 6 pm CDT.KELLY HOLDBROOKS BIOWith decades of experience in Western North Carolina's vast horticulture, Kelly Holdbrooks demonstrates her passion for fostering human connection with nature in everything she does. For more than a decade as executive director of Southern Highlands Reserve, a nonprofit native plant garden and research center on Toxaway Mountain, Kelly has built a network of conservationists and advocates for preserving the unique ecosystem of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Kelly's research in experiential methods and the humanism of nature earned her a master's degree in landscape architecture, with honors, from the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia. She also earned bachelor's degrees in international studies and political science from Rhodes College and was a three-sport NCAA athlete. She is a founding member of the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (SASRI), a public-private partnership working to restore the second most endangered ecosystem in the United States, the high elevation spruce-fir forests of the Southern Blue Ridge. She is a member of the Red Spruce Technical Advisory Board (RSTAB), headed by The Nature Conservancy, to make recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for their regional planning efforts. She also participates in the quarterly All Lands Meeting held by the U.S. Forest Service to develop a long-term collaborative plan for natural resource conservation across Region 8. Kelly enjoys hiking, gardening, yoga, and playing in nature with her family. She is proud to call Western North Carolina her home.You can learn more about Kelly and Southern Highlands Reserve by visiting their website and Instagram @southern_highlands_reserve.THE PLANTASTIC PODCASTThe Plantastic Podcast is a monthly podcast created by Dr. Jared Barnes. He's been gardening since he was five years old and now is an award-winning professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. To say hi and find the show notes, visit theplantasticpodcast.com.You can learn more about how Dr. Jared cultivates plants, minds, and life at meristemhorticulture.com. He also shares thoughts and cutting-edge plant research each week in his newsletter plant•ed, and you can sign up at meristemhorticulture.com/subscribe. Until next time, #keepgrowing!ecologyflowerhome and gardengardeninggardennative plantgarden designersciencenaturenative plantswildflowersgarden designwildflowerhorticulturelandscape installflowersplantplants
Celene Hawkins is the new Colorado River Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, stepping into the role after years of impactful work in tribal water policy and place-based conservation across the basin. She's taking the baton from Taylor Hawes, who led the program for nearly 17 years and is now serving as the Colorado River Program's Special Advisor. It's a leadership transition at a critical moment for the Colorado River, and in this episode, I was lucky to sit down with both of them in person to talk through the handoff—what's changing, what's staying the same, and what the future of the river might look like. This is both Celene and Taylor's second time on the podcast, and we cover a lot of ground. We talk about the ongoing negotiations over new operating guidelines for the river—what's on the table, why the stakes are so high, and what happens if the basin states can't come to an agreement. We dig into tribal involvement—how things are (slowly) changing after decades of exclusion, and why stronger tribal participation is essential to any long-term solutions. We also explore how conservation groups are bringing new ideas, resources, and partnerships to the table, from modeling future scenarios to piloting creative water-sharing and resilience strategies across the West. And beyond the policy, we talk about what it actually takes to lead in a time of uncertainty—how to stay grounded, keep teams motivated, and maintain momentum when the challenges feel overwhelming. As always, Taylor and Celene bring a clear-eyed sense of purpose and a refreshing mix of realism and optimism to the conversation. We're releasing this episode just ahead of Colorado River Day, which falls on July 25th. So if you care about the West, public lands, rivers, or just want to better understand one of the most important water and conservation challenges in North America, this is a great place to start. Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy! --- Celene Hawkins Taylor Hawes Announcement of Celene's new role as Director TNC's Colorado River Program Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/celene-taylor/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:02 - Intro, Taylor's career shift 7:27 - Celene's journey into Taylor's old role 9:07 - What Taylor's proud of 13:16 - Celene's pitch for the job 15:21 - Exciting initiatives 17:18 - Overview of the Colorado River Basin negotiations 22:42 - Sticking points 23:54 - Finding the Indigenous voice 28:38 - Alternatives 31:37 - Work outside of negotiations 37:07 - Federal funding freeze impacts 39:04 - Effects of uncertainty 40:57 - Not getting bogged down 44:49 - What Celene's learned from Taylor 46:28 - And how Taylor thinks Celene is well-positioned 47:22 - Book recs 51:37 - Wrapping up --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
Danae Wolfe is an award-winning conservation photographer, writer, educator, and the founder behind the @chasingbugs social media handle, focused on fostering appreciation and stewardship of backyard bugs and wildlife. Ever the pragmatic, she believes that everyone has the power to make a difference in combatting climate change and biodiversity loss. Danae was the 2022 recipient of the Garden Communicators International Emergent Communicator award, and her work has been featured in various outlets including CNN, The American Gardener magazine, and Nature Conservancy magazine. Through her community conservation initiative, Chasing Bugs, she has reached global audiences with science-based education about the importance of gardening for biodiversity and has inspired gardeners to appreciate the beauty of our natural world and embrace their role in its protection.Find Danae Wolfe and Chasing Bugs online: |Danae Wolfe - Chasing Bugs HomepageChasing Bugs with Danae Wolfe - FacebookChasing Bugs - TiktokDanae Wolfe Book - Grass Isn't GreenerFind me online:This Sustainable Life: Solve For Nature Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/solvefornatureBlog: https://verdantgrowth.blog/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/verdantgrowthBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/verdantgrowth.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/realverdantgrowthInstagram: http://instagram.com/verdant.growth or http://instagram.com/verdantgrowthofficial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Debt-for-nature swaps are gaining traction as a way to restructure sovereign debt in exchange for conservation commitments. In this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence director of ESG research Eric Kane and senior ESG associate Melanie Rua speak with Slav Gatchev, who leads The Nature Conservancy’s Sustainable Debt team, and Jake Harper, senior investment manager for Alternative Debt at Legal & General. Together, they discuss how these deals are structured, the role of new market standards in improving investor confidence and takeaways from landmark transactions in Ecuador and Gabon. Legal & General has invested nearly $500 million across four swaps, while TNC’s work has unlocked over $1 billion for conservation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the 'In the Woods' podcast by Oregon State University's Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program, host Jacob Putney interviews Thomas Stokely, a forest ecologist with The Nature Conservancy in Central Oregon. They discuss the significance of wildlife habitat connectivity, the impacts of habitat fragmentation and loss, the role of roads and recreation, and the importance of integrating fire management to promote ecosystem health. Thomas explains concepts like landscape ecology, connectivity, and fragmentation, emphasizing the need for effective management strategies to balance human activities with conservation efforts. They explore specific projects like the Oregon Connectivity Assessment Mapping Project and strategies for mitigating human impact on wildlife through community involvement and science-based forest management practices. For more information and accessible transcripts go to inthewoods.com.
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Stewardship Director Jeremy Lynch and Stewardship Coordinator Talitha McGuire highlight the successes of their 2025 Stewardship Programs to date, what is still to come this year and how you can get involved. Then, the Nature Conservancy's Director of Youth Engagement, Kate Ireland and Extern Marie Taylor who talk about about their externship programs on protecting the California sea otter.
In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted interviews Julia Kintsch, the Principal and Senior Ecologist at Eco-Resolutions. Julia grew up in Boulder, Colorado where she was ingrained with a deep love of nature. She went to University of Colorado at Boulder and earned a degree in Environmental Conservation. Then, after serving in the Peace Corps in Africa, she enrolled at Duke University and earned a masters degree in Landscape Ecology. After working for The Nature Conservancy and other non-profits, she formed Eco-Resolutions with the goal of minimizing and mitigating the impacts to nature of human activity.For the past 16 years, Julia has supported a number of transportation agencies and other groups... finding ways to protect both wildlife and motorists from accidents. She explains that her work with transportation ecology is at the intersection of the human and natural environment. She is a collaborator no doubt, bringing together diverse interests to build underpasses and overpasses and other roadway mitigation measures such as motorist warnings activated by cameras that detect the presence of wildlife. Every project and community is unique, different terrain and different species --deer, elk, moose, bears, coyotes, and smaller animals -- require different forms of crossings. Ted chimes in with his experience dodging deer in Vermont and monkees on roadways in Malaysia. Julia then presents the results of a number of her projects in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Virginia. The Colorado State Highway 9 wildlife protection project, she explains, is really a "system" made up of seven crossings, 10.8 miles of fencing, as well as 62 motion-sensor activated cameras at 49 locations to track the results of the protection systems. What years of careful evaluation has proven is a 90% decrease in accidents... a success rate that has earned significant recognition of the efficacy of careful and early planning, including both mitigation and crossing feasibility studies. Most recently, Julia has been consulting for Roaring Fork Safe Passages, working for its Director, Cecily DeAngelo, to prioritize wildlife crossings on Colorado State Highway 82, the busy transportation corridor that connects Aspen and Glenwood Springs.
This week, Alanna talks to Dr. Matt Mensinger, a postdoctoral researcher with the University of California Santa Cruz and The Nature Conservancy, to discuss his research on diadromous species. They discuss his prior work in Maine on American eel and Atlantic salmon as well as his current project focused on habitat restoration for endangered southern California steelhead in the Dangermond Preserve and Jalama Creek watershed. We hope you enjoy this episode! Main point: "Don't take yourself too seriously" Matt's email: mmensing@ucsc.edu Get in touch with us! The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music. The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).
In this episode, Tracey Testo-Smith, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Program Manager at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, is our guest. The topic is a timely one, Carbon and Forests. Climate change and its ramifications have made us aware of the importance of halting excessive release of carbon as CO2 into the atmosphere. One of the main agents of sequestering and storing carbon on the planet is the planet's network of forests and woodlands. Tracey explains the importance of sequestering (gathering) and storage of carbon molecules in the tissue of plants. Trees are made up of fifty percent carbon, and as they grow and mature, they collect more molecules during their lifespan. Even after death, they hold the carbon until the stage at which they begin to decay. Even then, the carbon may be absorbed into the soil and continue to be stored there. Carbon exists in “pools” of standing live trees, the forest floor, and dead and decaying wood and leaf litter. In a healthy forest, the cycle continues for years. Forest owners, who are aware of these facts, strive to maintain healthy systems, and are encouraged to assess their property for value and balance. There are many carbon “market” programs in place to try to encourage landowners to keep a healthy carbon control in place, some regulatory, like in California, and many voluntary, both private and in cooperation with state and local governments. One in particular is the Family Forest Carbon Program, for owners with thirty or more acres of woodland. In conjunction with the Nature Conservancy, it gives smaller forest owners financial incentive to keep acreage in woodlands, and can provide long term contracts with some payments and access to forestry advice, planning, inventory and data.As owners of woodlots, Tim and Jean had many questions about specifics. Acknowledging that the most efficient carbon sequestration and storage happen in a healthy forest, Tracey addresses nine management strategies available. Among them are deer management, with deer exclosures getting considerable attention. How to recognize success can consist of monitoring the impact of such stresses as insects, diseases, population of invasives, and tracking the inventory of plants and other data. The goals are regeneration, a healthy canopy, and a balance of young and older growth plants. Tracey also has information about scorecards for keeping your forest healthy, and her office as well as many partner agencies can provide help and information. Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guest: Tracey Testo-Smith Photo by: Jean Thomas Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas Resources
July 10, 2025 - Environmentalists are hoping the governor will sign legislation overwhelmingly approved by the legislature that is designed to expand the proliferation of crossbows. We hear the case for the measure from Paull Gallery, stewardship manager for the Nature Conservancy in New York, and Bill Cooke, a policy advisor with the Nature Conservancy in New York.
David & Ed chat with renowned scientist, author and Canadian, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe who argues that hope—not doom—is what drives action. Dr. Hayhoe is one of the world's most prominent climate communicators and known for crossing political, religious, and cultural lines to connect with audiences that most climate advocates can't or won't reach. It's an engaging discussion that delves into the psychology of despair, the limits of data in changing minds and behaviour, and whether hope still has a fighting chance. Show Notes:Available on the episode page on our website.About Our Guest:Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on understanding what climate change means for people and the places where we live. She is the Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Professor of Public Policy and Public Law in the Dept. of Political Science at Texas Tech University. She is the author of the book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, has given a TED talk with over 4 million views, and hosted the PBS digital series Global Weirding. Katharine has been named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People, Foreign Policy's 100 Leading Thinkers, and the United Nations Champion of the Environment.Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke PodcastsSend us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email)___Energy vs Climate Podcastwww.energyvsclimate.com Contact us at info@energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn | X/Twitter
In this episode, Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy join us to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved. Resources: Natural Climate Solutions: How nature can fight climate change (TNC) Carbon Markets (TNC) Carbon Markets Resource Center (TNC) The Nature Conservancy [website, NE chapter website] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne] Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us! We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/ Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
Joining us this month on the podcast are Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved. Resources: Natural Climate Solutions: How nature can fight climate change (TNC) Carbon Markets (TNC) Carbon Markets Resource Center (TNC) The Nature Conservancy [website, NE chapter website] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne] Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us! We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/ Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin
Sean Claffey is the Southwest Montana Sagebrush Conservation Coordinator at the Nature Conservancy, a role that places him at the center of one of the West's most overlooked but critically important ecosystems: the sagebrush steppe. Based in Dillon, Montana, Sean works across public and private lands to protect and restore this sprawling, foundational landscape that serves as habitat for countless species, supports rural economies, and connects the region's valleys and mountain ranges. Through his leadership in the Southwest Montana Sagebrush Partnership—a collaborative effort uniting agencies, landowners, and nonprofits—Sean helps ensure that the health of this “land in between” doesn't fall through the cracks. In this conversation, Sean and I dig into the complex threats facing sagebrush country, from invasive grasses and wildfire to conifer encroachment and land conversion. We talk about how fire suppression and ecological shifts have allowed evergreens like Douglas fir and juniper to overtake sagebrush, and how Sean's team is using a mix of prescribed burns, manual thinning, and innovative partnerships with local mills to restore balance to the landscape. He also shares how they're engaging young people in hands-on restoration work, creating pathways for rural youth to connect with the land and gain meaningful employment. Sean brings a unique blend of scientific insight, community-mindedness, and boots-on-the-ground experience to this work, and he's quick to credit the collaborative culture of southwest Montana for making so much progress possible. From low-tech wet meadow restoration to building a more resilient restoration economy, this is a hopeful, grounded conversation about how conservation can succeed when it centers people, place, and purpose. If you're a new listeners and want to go deeper on this subject, I'd encourage you to go back and listen to my earlier episode with Matt Cahill who gives an excellent crash course on the Sagebrush Sea and the epsiode with Austin Rempel and Nancy Smith, who dig deep into riparian restoration in Montana. But for this episode, be sure the check out the webpage and episode notes for some excellent videos about Sean's work and links to everything we discuss. Thanks for listening. --- Sean Claffey Southwest Montana Sagebrush Partnership Matt Cahill M&P episode Nancy Smith and Austin Rempel M&P episode Full episode notes, video, and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/sean-claffey/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:26 - Intro and Ed's love of Dillon 4:14 - The Sagebrush Sea 7:19 - Pressures on the sea 9:42 - Conifer expansion, the main reason for grassland reduction 12:00 - Ecological, environmental, economical 17:52 - Working with the timber industry 21:59 - Southwest Montana Sagebrush Partnership, not just another NGO 26:41 - Sean's first priorities with SW MT Sagebrush 30:11 - The way the water should flow 34:47 - Youth programming 40:53 - Cheatgrass, an actual cheater 43:47 - Containing cheatgrass 45:01 - Cheatgrass and fire 47:02 - Working with private landowners 52:58 - Connecting with the community 58:21 - A little more about Sean 1:01:10 - Career advice for people who want to make the world a better place 1:03:54 - Book recs and life recs --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
Next year's Pennsylvania gubernatorial race is already on the political horizon. So far, the Republican field is shaping up with three prominent figures expressing interest. EMTs could soon be authorized to give caregivers medication that would reverse opioid overdoses, as a bill is quickly moving through the state Capitol. Pennsylvania could receive as much as 200 million dollars as part of a massive settlement with drug maker Purdue Pharma. That's according to PA Attorney General Dave Sunday. The payout is part of a $7.4 billion deal, stemming from the opioid crisis, in which prosecutors and addiction experts say Purdue and its owners the Sackler family played a major role. A portion of land in Somerset County is now protected through a recent acquisition by The Nature Conservancy. The land is part of a critical ecosystem, and it's being added to State Game Lands 82. Police say an 18-year old stabbed his father to death with a machete-style knife during an early-morning argument Tuesday in their West York home. Raw milk sold in Lancaster County and throughout Central Pennsylvania is contaminated and should be thrown out, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The milk is contaminated with an infectious intestinal disease. The affected milk is Meadow View Jerseys brand raw milk purchased since April 1 with sell-by dates between April 15 and July 8. A Pennsylvania college is addressing its growing financial issues by auctioning its art collection. Albright College, located in Reading, Berks County - according to a report by our partners at Spotlight PA - is preparing to auction more than 2,000 pieces of art. Gov. Josh Shapiro was joined by Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer LeSean McCoy, at the official ribbon-cutting for a new 41-unit housing complex in Harrisburg, to benefit low and moderate income home buyers. And comedian and actor Shane Gillis, a Mechanicsburg native, will be hosting this year's ESPYS awards show. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Brett Cyphers sits down with Temperince Morgan, a fourth-generation Floridian who brings both personal roots and professional expertise to Florida's most pressing environmental issues. Temperince shares her story, beginning with her upbringing alongside a father with deep roots in ranching. Raised in Jacksonville and spending time with family in Lake Okeechobee, her love for nature was shaped by family trips around Florida. Her childhood was deeply connected to water and land—where cattle ranches, the St. Johns River, and Florida's state parks sparked a lasting bond with the landscape and laid the foundation for a career dedicated to its restoration and protection. She walks Brett through her time as a biology major at Florida State University and how that led to a career in environmental science. The conversation explores her roles at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District, where she helped lead early efforts in Everglades restoration. Now, as Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy's Southern U.S. Division, she oversees large-scale environmental strategy across 10 states. They also dive into projects close to her, like the Pensacola East Bay Oyster Project. Rich in personal insight and professional depth, this episode offers an intimate look at one of Florida's most respected environmental leaders—and what it takes to protect the state's natural future. To explore the broader mission behind the work Temperince leads—conserving lands and waters across the U.S. and beyond visit The Nature Conservancy To hear more about the Florida-based initiatives Temperince references, including coastal resilience, water management, and Everglades restoration visit The Nature Conservancy in Florida To take a closer look at the project that Temperince highlights as an example of measurable, on-the-ground restoration visit Pensacola East Bay Oyster Project Temperince discusses values that are essential to future conservation success; this center reflects TNC's focus on science, outreach, and education. Find out more here Center for Conservation Initiatives As discussed in the episode, long-term land conservation is key to protecting Florida's water—to learn how TNC is doing it click here Florida Land Protection | The Nature Conservancy If Temperince's story inspired you, consider supporting the work she and her team are doing to build a more resilient Florida by visiting Donate Now to Protect Nature | The Nature Conservancy This episode is brought to you by our friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES). RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This episode is also brought to you by our friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach us directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who Brett should be talking with in the future. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.
Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by The Nature Conservancy's Kelsey Molloy, Wyoming Migration Initiative's Andrew Jakes, Pheasants Forever's Casey Sill and PF's Montana State Coordinator Hunter VanDonsel for a discussion regarding the Montana Grassland Initiative. The dialogue spans the objectives for the initiative, emphasizing its advantages for Montana's diverse wildlife species as well as the farming and ranching community. Episode Highlights: • VanDonsel kicks off the conversation with a poignant narrative about walking across a Montana grassland while carrying his newborn daughter against his chest. This experience inspired VanDonsel to conceive the Montana Grassland Initiative and solidify his career aspirations. • Molloy and Jakes explain the significance of Montana's sagebrush habitat for sage grouse and pronghorn, particularly during their migration periods. • Jakes further discusses the distinct nature of pronghorns in North America, noting that their closest relative is Africa's giraffe. “On the Wing Podcast” is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.
Jackie Miller is the Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), and Carlos Fernández is the Colorado State Director for The Nature Conservancy. Both are highly respected leaders in Colorado's conservation community, and they've played pivotal roles in shaping the state's approach to protecting land, water, wildlife, and outdoor access. While Carlos has joined me on the podcast several times before, this is Jackie's first appearance, and I was honored to have them both on to discuss one of the most significant conservation developments in recent memory. Just a few weeks ago, the State of Colorado announced the launch of its Outdoors Strategy—a comprehensive, collaborative roadmap designed to align the state's conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience efforts for decades to come. Developed through years of planning, dialogue, and consensus-building across hundreds of organizations and communities, the Strategy addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing Colorado's landscapes and communities. It's not just a plan—it's a shared vision backed by actionable goals, clear metrics, and powerful tools for implementation at the local and statewide levels. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the origin of Colorado's Outdoors Strategy, the urgency behind its creation, and the unique collaborative process that brought it to life. Jackie shares how GOCO's long-standing community partnerships and flexible funding model positioned the organization to lead at a statewide scale, while Carlos explains how the Strategy dovetails with The Nature Conservancy's science-based goals and priorities. We also explore the Strategy's three “North Star” goals, the innovative Resource Hub that supports on-the-ground action, and the importance of regional implementation and tribal engagement. It's a timely, inspiring look at how Colorado is setting a national standard for coordinated, community-driven conservation. --- Jackie Miller Great Outdoors Colorado Carlos Fernandez The Nature Conservancy in Colorado Colorado's Outdoor Strategy Episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/jackie-carlos/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:03 – Intros, Carlos then Jackie 5:09 – Explaining Great Outdoors Colorado 8:51 – How Jackie got to GOCO 11:37 – Carlos on GOCO 15:29 – Challenges that led to Colorado's Outdoors Strategy 19:04 – Opportunities that the Strategy will address 21:33 – Jackie's executive summary 27:01 – How the Strategy aligns with TNC's other goals 29:59 – North stars and measuring success 33:22 – The TNC tools Carlos is excited about 36:34 – Creating urgency to execute a plan 40:14 – Face-to-face 42:51 – Carlos's thoughts on execution 45:49 – How the plan affects the layperson 47:25 – What did we miss? First Jackie 51:29 – Then Carlos 53:31 – Book recs 57:42 – Wrap up words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
Firefighting is a career with an inherent cancer risk, but a full understanding of what those risks are has been elusive. An important registry designed to help understand the link between firefighters and cancer was taken offline on April 1 because of federal cuts, then restored six weeks later. Host Flora Lichtman discusses this with firefighter health researcher Sara Jahnke and reporter Murphy Woodhouse from Boise State Public Radio and the Mountain West News Bureau. Plus, pests and pathogens are ravaging keystone tree species in forests across the country. Flora discusses the innovative science behind breeding pest-resistant trees with Leigh Greenwood from The Nature Conservancy.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.