Podcasts about Wildlife Conservation Society

This week, 124 countries agreed at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on measures aimed at preventing a future pandemic. The agreement very strongly favours a “One Health” approach, appreciating how so many potential pathogens originate in human-animal interactions. Still to agree on the terms of how to share pathogens and information with global science and vaccine researchers, eventually the treaty will need to be signed by at least 60 countries. But can the inequity between countries of the global south and north, and issues of intellectual property, be bridged?A new study on origins of the Nigerian mpox epidemic points strongly to zoonotic crossovers and mobility of wildlife in West Africa. Edyth Parker of Redeemer's University in Nigeria describes their phylogenetic tree.Can the bovine form of H5N1 flu infect pigs, and could domestic pig populations then provide a crucible for further variants to develop? Jürgen Richt of Kansas State University and colleagues have been investigating. We need to keep up vigilance.Lucy van Dorp of University College London, working with a consortium including London's Crick Institute, has been looking at a moment in the past when human activity provided an opportunity for a bacterial human pathogen to change its lifestyle. According to their phylogenetic tree, the bacterium Borrelia recurrentis (which causes louse-borne relapsing fever in humans) adapted and moved from ticks to human body lice around about the same time as humans started using woollen clothing.And Susan Lieberman, VP for International Policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, was in the trenches of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations, and shares some of her hopes for its success. Image: World Health Assembly formally adopts by consensus world's first Pandemic Agreement, Geneva, Switzerland - 20 May 2025 Image Credit: Magali Girardin via EPA-EFE/ShutterstockPresenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield

Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Frania Shelley-Grielen about introducing cats, inter-cat aggression, and other topics related to multi-cat households.Frania Shelley-Grielen is a professional animal behaviorist, dog trainer, and educator who holds a Masters Degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from New York University, complimenting her insight into behavior with an in-depth understanding of the built environment. She is a licensed Pet Care Technician Instructor, a registered therapy dog handler, a certified Doggone safe Bite Safety Instructor, and a professional member of the Pet Professional Guild and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Frania specializes in behavior modification work and training with cats, dogs, and birds and humane management for urban wildlife.Frania is the author of Cats and Dogs: Living With and Looking at Companion Animals From Their Point of View. She founded AnimalBehaviorist.us in 2009 to share her work on how welfare-based, science-focused strategies and solutions from the canine and feline point of view are more effective and make everyone happier, including the humans. Frania also taught the ASPCA's Fundamentals of Dog Care course for the Houlton Institute where she is on the zoology faculty. She has worked on research projects at the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, and the ASPCA in NYC. Frania presents and consults in the metropolitan New York area, nationally and internationally. She lives in New York City with her family and cats and dogs.

Join Niki Tudge as she chats and chuckles with Frania Shelley-Grielen about her book, Behavior Matters for Cats and Dogs, winner of the Dog Writers of America's "Best Behavior Book 2024" and the Dogwise "Best Book of 2024.”Niki and Frania discussed both the cat and dog sections of the book and snippets from the chapters on aggression, dog bite prevention, and some of the individual cat and dog skills.Frania Shelley-Grielen is a professional animal behaviorist, dog trainer, and educator who holds a Masters Degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from New York University, complimenting her insight into behavior with an in-depth understanding of the built environment. She is a licensed Pet Care Technician Instructor, a registered therapy dog handler, a certified Doggone safe Bite Safety Instructor, and a professional member of the Pet Professional Guild and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Frania specializes in behavior modification work and training with cats, dogs, and birds and humane management for urban wildlife.Frania is the author of Cats and Dogs: Living With and Looking at Companion Animals From Their Point of View. She founded AnimalBehaviorist.us in 2009 to share her work on how welfare-based, science-focused strategies and solutions from the canine and feline point of view are more effective and make everyone happier, including the humans. Frania also taught the ASPCA's Fundamentals of Dog Care course for the Houlton Institute where she is on the zoology faculty. She has worked on research projects at the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, and the ASPCA in NYC. Frania presents and consults in the metropolitan New York area, nationally and internationally. She lives in New York City with her family and cats and dogs.

Join Niki Tudge and Judy Luther as they chat and chuckle with Frania Shelley-Grielen about behavior matters for cats and dogs.Frania Shelley-Grielen is a professional animal behaviorist, dog trainer, and educator who holds a Masters Degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from New York University, complimenting her insight into behavior with an in-depth understanding of the built environment. She is a licensed Pet Care Technician Instructor, a registered therapy dog handler, a certified Doggone safe Bite Safety Instructor, and a professional member of the Pet Professional Guild and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Frania specializes in behavior modification work and training with cats, dogs, and birds and humane management for urban wildlife.Frania is the author of Cats and Dogs: Living With and Looking at Companion Animals From Their Point of View. She founded AnimalBehaviorist.us in 2009 to share her work on how welfare-based, science-focused strategies and solutions from the canine and feline point of view are more effective and make everyone happier, including the humans. Frania also taught the ASPCA's Fundamentals of Dog Care course for the Houlton Institute where she is on the zoology faculty. She has worked on research projects at the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, and the ASPCA in NYC. Frania presents and consults in the metropolitan New York area, nationally and internationally. She lives in New York City with her family and cats and dogs.

Thomas Nicolon is a French National Geographic photographer and explorer documenting wildlife conservation worldwide, with work featured in National Geographic, Le Monde, GEO, Reuters, and other major media outlets. During his five years as a France 24 correspondent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicolon shifted to wildlife storytelling, collaborating with organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF in central Africa's protected areas.After two years documenting wildlife trafficking in Peru's Amazon basin, Nicolon now divides his time between field assignments and advocacy work, speaking at festivals and interviews to promote protection of the Congo basin and tropical rainforests.Notable Links:Thomas Nicolon WebsiteThomas Nicolon InstagramThomas Nicolon YouTube Channel*****This episode is brought to you by Luminar Neo.Luminar Neo streamlines the editing process and provides everything you could possibly need to get photos that will look amazing on the screen and in print. Luminar Neo was designed for both hobbyists and pros and includes cutting-edge editing tools – all in one intuitive and easy-to-use app.And now you can receive a 15% discount on Luminar Neo by using BEYONDTHELENS discount code at checkout when visiting skylum.com.*****This episode is brought to you by Kase Filters. I travel the world with my camera, and I can use any photography filters I like, and I've tried all of them, but in recent years I've landed on Kase Filters.Kase filters are made with premium materials, HD optical glass, shockproof, with zero color cast, round and square filter designs, magnetic systems, filter holders, adapters, step-up rings, and everything I need so I never miss a moment.And now, my listeners can get 10% off the Kase Filters Amazon page when they visit. beyondthelens.fm/kase and use coupon code BERNABE10Kase Filters, Capture with Confidence.

Jorge Salas-Guevara is the President and Founder of New Paths Expeditions (NPE); his journey began at a very young age when he had the fortune to spend his summers in the rugged beauty of Patagonia, where he embraced the role of a mountain and trekking guide. Such experiences ignited a lifelong commitment to adventure and exploration. These early ventures laid the groundwork for a unique career in travel, drawing the attention of premier travel brands in the U.S. and affording him the honor of learning from some of the world's most venerated expedition leaders.Jorge's professional path has been diverse and enriched by a variety of roles within one of the travel industry's largest conglomerates. From guiding, product development, and managing crises to training field staff and ensuring the safety of travel operations, developing new US travel brands, advising new and old local travel services, supervising the safety of planes and ships, and even designing and building expedition travel vessels. His contributions have been instrumental in enhancing travel experiences worldwide. His leadership skills were further recognized through his executive roles, including his tenure as CEO of one of the conglomerate's brands. Yet, it was his vision for a more intimate and insightful approach to travel that led to the founding of NPE, aiming to offer small-group expeditions that provide higher quantities and quality of content, and delve into the heart of nature and culture.With a solid educational background in Business Administration, focusing on travel operations, marketing, and finance at Cornell, Jorge has built NPE on the principle that attention to detail is paramount in creating unforgettable travel experiences. His hands-on approach in the field and continuous engagement with guests and destinations underscore his belief in the transformative power of travel.In addition to his leadership at NPE, Jorge Salas-Guevara is deeply commitment to conservation and community support. As the founder and president of two conservation organizations, he has been devoted to providing clean water to remote Amazon communities and helping wildlife conservation efforts in Africa and Asia. These initiatives are a testament to the holistic approach to travel at NPE—every expedition not only promises discovery and adventure but also contributes positively to the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.Jorge's contributions extend beyond business leadership to include wildlife and travel photography, where his work has been recognized and featured by notable institutions and publications, including Smithsonian, Wildlife Conservation Society, Nature Conservancy, among many others. This creative outlet not only reflects his appreciation for the natural world but also enhances the expeditions led by NPE, offering guests unique insights and memorable moments captured through his lens and lectures.When not exploring new destinations or leading expeditions, Jorge enjoys spending quality time with his daughter Josefina, exploring his passions for photography, writing, and cooking.Jorge's leadership at NPE is not just about guiding tours; it's about fostering a community of travelers eager to explore, learn, and connect with the world's most breathtaking landscapes and cultures. His story is one of dedication, expertise, and a sincere love for adventure that continues to inspire both the team at NPE and the guests who embark on journeys with us.https://npexpeditions.com/meet-our-team/

Emily and Ky have more to say about parentified children, incompetent parents, exploiting paid support, mystical supportive teachers, parent teacher conferences, math, and overreacting. And! An exciting update on last week's exciting announcement! Donations to buymeacoffee.com/wineweedweird featuring the alligator (crocodile?) emoji will be donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society to support Emily and Ky in walking the Run for the Wild 3k at the Bronx Zoo! They'll be recording a special silly episode for buymeacoffee.com supporters only during their subsequent day at the zoo! Support an important cause, and get special content!! buymeacoffee.com.wineweedweird

Dr. Bruce Beehler is an ornithologist and Research Associate in the Bird Division of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Bruce's research is focused on the birds of the boreal conifer forests of the U.S. and Canada. He is interested in understanding how the permanent resident birds survive in these forests year round. Bruce spends much of his free time outside and immersed in nature. He enjoys playing tennis, going for hikes, and kayaking, as well as watching wildlife at the feeders outside his home. He completed his undergraduate studies in American Civilization at Williams College and received his Masters and PhD degrees in Biology from Princeton University where he studied behavioral ecology of the birds of paradise. Afterwards, Bruce worked for ten years at the Smithsonian's Natural Museum of Natural history. Before returning to the Museum in 2014, Bruce worked for Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the U.S. Department of State, Counterpart International, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Bruce is a Fellow of the American Ornithologists Union, and he is the author of eleven books including a field guide and a taxonomic checklist of Birds of New Guinea and the recently released book North on the Wing. In our interview, Bruce shared some of his fantastic stories about life and science.

In 2004, the investment bank and financial services firm Goldman Sachs came into possession of a group of distressed assets that included a 680,000-acre parcel of land at the bottom of South America. In Part 2 of our celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Chile's Karukinka Natural Park, we dive into the exceptional story of how Goldman came to gift this pristine landscape to WCS for conservation.  Reporting: Nat MossGuests: Bob Christie, John Calvelli, Larry Linden, Kent Redford, Steven Sanderson  WCS wishes to acknowledge the important contributions of the following individuals to the successful transfer of land from Goldman Sachs to the Wildlife Conservation Society for the creation of the Karukinka Natural Park in Tierra del Fuego, Chile: Chris Austin, Kathy Barclay, John Bryan, Norman Christensen, Bob Christie, Dale Cooney, Brad D Gillman, Max Gitter, Salman Kahn, Nico Kogan, Adam Levine, Larry Linden, Kim Maxfield, John O'Leary, Kevin Padrick, Hank Paulson, Juan Robayo, John F.W. Rogers, Peter Rose, Jed Schaefer, Don Stern, Doug Tompkins, Kris Tompkins.

The 300,000-hectare Karukinka Natural Park was created in 2004 after land in Chilean Tierra del Fuego was donated to the Wildlife Conservation Society by Goldman Sachs. As the park celebrates its 20th anniversary, we begin a two-part series on how its establishment helped to spur both the development of an ambitious WCS Country Program in Chile and the expansion of the country's national conservation efforts. Reporting: Nat MossGuests: Bárbara Saavedra, Melissa Carmody, Rodrigo Munzenmayer

After 16 years of grassroots efforts, local communities in northern Puerto Rico are celebrating the creation of a new marine protected area (MPA) - Jardines Submarinos de Vega Baja y Manatí. The newly-established MPA encompasses 202.7 km (77 square miles) of coastal coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds home to more than 14 endangered species, including the Greater Caribbean Manatee. The area also hosts vibrant small-scale fisheries and a local ecotourism industry, and communities hope that new efforts to formally co-manage Jardines as an MPA will allow its waters to remain a source of food and income for local families for generations. "This is a victory for the people," said Ricardo Laureano, leading member of Vegabajeños Impulsando Desarrollo Ambiental Sustentable (VIDAS). "These ecosystems nourish us and sustain our quality of life. It took 16 years of hard work, starting in 2007, to get here. Over the years, we rallied neighbors, knocked on doors, and engaged local and national leaders to highlight the critical need to protect this Reserve." VIDAS community environmental collective was founded in 2006 in response to excessive and poorly planned coastal development, which displaces vulnerable and marginalized coastal communities (traditionally underserved communities). VIDAS serves as a link between the academy and entities that provide pro bono scientific, legal, and sociological advisory services. Since its foundation, it has carried out ecological reef rehabilitation work focused on the restoration of coral reefs with an educational component that covers everything from presentations to youth in local schools and communities to training volunteers in the disciplines of coral restoration and sustainable development. The conservation movement for Jardines was led by a coalition of several local groups spearheaded by VIDAS, including Puerto Rico Sea Grant, Sociedad de Ambiente Marino, Surfrider Puerto Rico, Para la Naturaleza, and supported by international partners like the Wildlife Conservation Society, WCS. The Jardines MPA represents a critical point of connectivity within the greater Caribbean. Since 2018, WCS has joined forces with the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC) - an intergovernmental platform that brings together the countries of the Greater Antilles - to advance and scale up marine conservation in the region. As part of this initiative, WCS supported local partners in Puerto Rico that worked with VIDAS to strengthen the Jardines MPA proposal and bring it across the finish line. "This milestone was achieved thanks to the unwavering efforts of a grassroots community coalition," said Pamela Castillo, WCS Marine 3030 Director. "WCS is honored to provide technical support that helps locally-led efforts like this one reach the national level, contributing to the successful designation of the Jardines MPA. We celebrate our partnership with the Caribbean Biological Corridor in advancing science-based, effective, and inclusive marine conservation, which brings us closer to the coalition of community groups in Puerto Rico, led by VIDAS." The next step will be the development of a co-management plan for the MPA. "Our dream is for Jardines to be co-managed by the people who know it best - the local communities," said Mariela Declet-Perez, leader of Descendants United for Nature, Adaptation, and Sustainability (DUNAS). "We aim to create co-management agreements that balance sustainable resource use, conservation, research, and eco-tourism. This will take time, but we are committed to supporting VIDAS and our local partners to ensure long-term success." As the coalition looks ahead, securing funding and scientific support for designing a participatory management process is crucial. A formal legal framework, co-management agreements with local agencies, and a recurring budget will be essential for the project's longevity. Local leaders view Jardines as a lifelong commitment, and they hope their success inspires ot...

B2B vs. B2C marketing, internal vs. external communications, public affairs vs. business communications – these are typical examples of the binaries that have long dominated the communications landscape. As the industry evolves, many professionals are recognizing that these binaries contribute to siloed organizations – and less effective communications across a complex array of external and internal stakeholders. To propel organizations forward during uncertain and challenging times, we must focus on building our skills around more matrixed and fully integrated approaches to communications.In today's episode, we are joined by Peter Gudritz, Global Director, Business & Marketing Communications, Global Public Affairs at Dow. With a distinguished career in public affairs and communications, particularly focused on sustainability – including work at the Wildlife Conservation Society and other NGOs – Peter shares the skill sets (and mindsets!) required for communications leaders to adopt a holistic approach that helps build matrixed, resilient organizations, This includes embracing nuance and learning to act as integrators. We also discuss:How integrating policy insights with robust internal communications can support employees in their role as brand ambassadors and key stakeholdersThe critical role of resilience, adaptability, and strategic communications in aligning a vast, matrixed organization around sustainable innovation as a message and a missionThe necessity of multi-stakeholder engagement in solving complex challenges such as in the areas of energy, climate or waste reductionBalancing qualitative and quantitative metrics to measure communication effectivenessBrands that currently have “gravity” for Peter including a book and podcast recommendation: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haid, and Hard Fork Podcast by The New York Times.

Today we're in conversation with Alissa Barnes - a marine biologist who wears several hats - from illustrator and social scientist to diver and shark anatomy specialist! She has been working to understand elasmobranch fisheries since 2015, and much of her work has focussed on gathering baseline information about fishing practices across multiple states along the west coast and understanding the drivers behind the fisheries. With about a decade of interdisciplinary and diverse experiences under her belt, she is now co-leading the Sharks and Rays project in the Marine Conservation Programme at the Wildlife Conservation Society!

Join us for a fascinating episode with Carol S. Henger, an alumnus of Fordham University's Biological Science Ph.D. Program and an expert in wildlife ecology. Carol has an extensive background in studying the behavior of coyotes through her collaboration with the Gotham Coyote Project in New York City. As a former postdoctoral fellow in the molecular lab at the Wildlife Conservation Society, she used molecular techniques to aid the conservation of endangered species. Now an educator, Carol is passionate about introducing the intricate world of DNA and genetics to her students.  In today's discussion, she shares insights on: The behavioral differences between wolves and coyotes, shedding light on their unique adaptations and survival strategies Non-intrusive methods for studying coyotes The intriguing behaviors of urban coyotes, including their efforts to avoid human contact, their dietary habits in city environments, and how they figure out how many other coyotes are living in a given area Her upcoming research goals centered on understanding the movement patterns of urban coyotes across metropolitan areas Tune in to hear the full conversation and learn more about Henger's work at Carol S. Henger (carolhenger.com). Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/38oMlMr

After tigers and lions, the jaguar is the third largest species of wild felid and the only species of the Panthera genus (big cats) to be found in Americas. The current range of jaguars extends from southern USA, across Mexico and Central America to the Amazonian rainforest. In Central and South America, jaguars inhabit tropical rainforests, deciduous and cloud forests. In North America, however, jaguars have shown a preference for seasonally flooded wetlands and dry grasslands. The jaguar is currently listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List following a   population decline of 20–25%  in about 30 years. Moreover, the jaguar has lost more than half its range since 1999. While deforestation and habitat fragmentation continue to threaten the species, the illegal wildlife trade remains a more pressing issue. Following the Second World War, the international trade of jaguar skis blossomed, with reports of up to 15,000 jaguars being poached annually for the trade from the Brazillian Amazon alone. The international trade of jaguar skins has reportedly plummeted following the enactment of the  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in 1973. However, poaching and the illegal trade of jaguars still occur on a local scale. Seizure reports indicate that a minimum of 857 jaguars were lost between 2012 and 2018 to the illegal wildlife trade in South America. In this episode, I speak to Melissa Arias, who has worked extensively to understand and tackle the illegal trade of jaguars. During her PhD at the University of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Melissa, scientifically investigated the drives and prevalences of the illegal trade in jaguars in Latin America. Following her PhD, Melissa has worked with various prestigious wildlife organizations, such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, CITES, and the Convention on Migratory Species. She currently is the Coordinator of WWF's  Jaguar and Priority Landscape Project. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anishbanerjee.substack.com

Joining us in this episode is Carol S. Henger, a former Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Lab at the Wildlife Conservation Society. As a researcher who has used molecular approaches to conserve endangered species, she now teaches middle and high school students about DNA and genetics – a subject she fell in love with during her postdoc studies. Carol is a Texan now living in New York who specializes in the ecology of coyotes in urban settings. Where are they coming from? What are they eating? How do they sustain themselves in such foreign environments? Tune in now as Carol educates us on the fascinating subjects of environmental science and wildlife monitoring… In this conversation, we dig into: The primary differences between coyotes and wolves.  What makes eastern coyotes different from the others.  Why coyotes' hunting behaviors are so unique.  How researchers observe and study coyotes.  The most common human food that urban coyotes eat.  To follow along with Carol and her work, click here now! Take advantage of a 5% discount on Ekster accessories by using the code FINDINGGENIUS. Enhance your style and functionality with premium accessories. Visit bit.ly/3uiVX9R to explore latest collection. Episode also available on Apple Podcast: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

On this episode, my guests are Martin Lena and Linda Poppe of Survival International. They join me to discuss “fortress conservation” in the Congo, the issues facing Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and the recent victories of Survival International there. Linda is a political scientist and director of the Berlin office of Survival International, the global movement for Indigenous peoples' rights. She is also part of Survival's campaign to Decolonize Conservation, which supports Indigenous peoples, who continue to suffer land theft and human rights abuses in the name of conservation.Martin is an advocacy officer for Survival International. He primarily works on Survival's campaign to Decolonize Conservation and has collected testimonies directly from communities facing violations of their rights in the name of conservation. Show Notes:What Conservation Looks like in the Democratic Republic of the CongoThe Evictions of the BatwaSafari Tourism in DRC ConflictThe Militarization of Conservation in Kahuzi-Biega National ParkLand Guards vs Land GuardiansOrganizing Victory! Scrapping French Involvement in Kahuze-BiegaThe German Government Continues to Fund the ParkSolidarity: How to Respond / Act in ConcertHomework:Survival International: French government scraps funding plan for Kahuzi-Biega National Park, citing human rights concernsSurvival International Decolonize Conservation CampaignBalancing Act: The Imperative of Social and Ecological Justice in Kahuzi-BiegaTranscript:Chris: [00:00:00] Welcome to the End of Tourism Podcast, Martin and Linda. I'd love it if I could start by asking you two to explain to our listeners where you two find yourselves today and what the world looks like there for you. Linda: Well, hi everyone. My name is Linda. I work for Survival International and I'm in Berlin. I'm at home, actually, and I look forward to talking to you and chatting with you.It's dark outside already, but, well, that's, I guess, the time of the year. Martin: And I'm based in Paris, also at home, but I work at Survival's French office. And how does the world feel right now? It feels a bit too warm for October, but other than that. Chris: Well, thank you both for for joining me today. I'd like to begin by reminiscing on the season three interview that I had with your colleague Fiore Longo, entitled "Decolonizing Conservation in Africa and Beyond."And in that interview, we discussed the history [00:01:00] of conservation as colonization in the context of Tanzania and the national parks that were built there and the indigenous lands that were stolen in order to do so. I'm curious if you two could offer a bit of background for our listeners in terms of the history of conservation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and especially in regards to the Batwa people and the Kahuzi Biega National Park.Linda: We were quite you know, astonished of the colonial history that, we find in the park where we're here to discuss today. Well, the Congo, obviously, you know, was a colony. And I think in this context, we also need to look at the conservation that is happening in the DRC today.And a lot of the things that you have discussed with our colleague, feel very true for the DRC as well. And the, the park that we're going to look at today, I think it's probably [00:02:00] also the best example to start to explain a little bit what conservation looks like in DRC. It's an older park, so it was created a longer time ago, and it was always regarded as something that is there to protect precious nature for people to look at and not for people to go and live in.And this is exactly what the problem is today, which we see continues, that the people that used to live on this land are being pushed outside violently, separated from the land which they call home, which is everything for them, the supermarket, the church, the school, just in the name of conserving supposed nature.And unfortunately, this is something that we see all over the DRC and different protected areas that exist there, that we still follow this colonial idea of mostly European [00:03:00] conservationists in history and also currently that claim that they're protecting nature, often in tandem with international conservation NGOs.In the park we look at today, it's the Wildlife Conservation Society, and they're, yeah, trying to get rid of the original inhabitants that have guarded these spaces for such a long time. Martin: To build on that, in our campaign to decolonize conservation and survival, we often say that fortress conservation has deep colonial roots and you can definitely see that with the the actual history of the of Kahuzi Biega National Park because it started as a reserve that was created by the Belgian colonial government in 1937 and It was transformed into a national park after independence.So in the 70s, but it was still designated as such following the lobbying of a Belgian conservationist. So it's really the continuation the Western and the European will to keep controlling the, [00:04:00] the independent territories. And that in Africa oftentimes was done through conservation.Linda: And it also has this idea of, I think a lot of the conservation projects that we see, Martin just said it, there was also this post independence push on creating national parks, which was obviously related to the idea that Europeans might lose hold of control in certain areas, so they were pushing for the creation of national parks like the Kahuzi Biega National Park.And that is the setting that we're talking about, basically, something that has very colonial roots and has been pushed into the post colonial era, but in a way which is actually very colonial. Chris: Thank you both for that brief, brief history and introduction into what we'll be speaking about today, Linda, you mentioned that so many of the circumstances around the creation of these national parks includes the exclusion and [00:05:00] displacement of the original inhabitants.And in this case, among others, this includes the Batwa people. And so I'd like to just give our listeners a little bit of a context for what's happened to the Batwa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And so the statistics tell us that "over 90 percent of the 87, 000 indigenous Batwa people in the park have lost legal access to their native territory, turned into conservation areas, and who are desperately poor," according to a 2009 United Nations report.Now, in a recent Reuters article, it's written that, quote, "Local human rights and environmental experts say that the authorities failure to fulfill promises to the Batwa has undermined efforts to protect the forest and its endangered species, including some of the last populations of eastern lowland gorilla.Some of the Batwa around the [00:06:00] park participate in the illegal poaching, mining, and logging that are destroying the gorilla's globally significant habitat. As a result, the conservation outlook for the park is critical, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature." The article goes further and says that "the Batwa have no choice because they are poverty stricken, according to Josue Aruna, president of the province's environmental civil society group, who does community outreach for the Batwa." It seems in this way that the land rights and traditional lifestyles of the Batwa are intimately tied to the health and survival of the ecosystems within the national park, which they've been excluded from, and that their poverty is a consequence of their displacement. Do you think that the issue is as simple as that? Martin: It's always interesting to read these reports from the conservationists, whether it's the IUCN or the NGOs, because the problem is always "the local people. So they are poor and they [00:07:00] have no choice. They participate in poaching." and it's always their fault.Like you were saying, if they end up being poor it's because they were evicted from the land. And as Linda was saying earlier, the forest and the land more generally is everything to them or was everything to them. So it's not only the place where they get food, it's also the whole basis of their identity and their way of life.So once they lose that, they end up in our world, capitalist system, but at the lowest possible level. So, that's why they end up in poverty. But it's a problem that was created by the conservationists themselves. And even when you read Their discourse or their position about trying to improve the situation for the Batwa, it's always about generating revenue ,lifting them out of poverty, developing alternative livelihoods. But what we are campaigning for is not some alternative to the loss of their rights. It's Their land rights themselves. And to go to your other question [00:08:00] about the fact that the loss of their land rights has led to a degrading in the health of the ecosystem.I think, yes, for sure. That has been the case, and it's what we're seeing all around the world in these protected areas that are supposed to protect nature. But actually, once you evict the best conservationists and the people that were taking care of the land for decades, then there is room for all kinds of exploitation whether it be mass tourism or luxury safaris or even mining and logging concessions.So it's not a coincidence if 80 percent of the biodiversity on the planet is located in indigenous territories. It's because they have lived in the land. It's not wild nature. They have lived there for generations. They have protected it and they have shaped it through their practices. So, to us, the best way to protect this ecosystem is to ensure that their land rights are respected and blaming them for poaching or putting that on the fact that they are poor, it's just [00:09:00] dishonest and ignoring the basis of the problem.Linda: Yeah. I agree. And when you just read out these sentences, I noted down like the way it was formulated, as a result, the park is threatened. It's again, just focusing on the local people as being the problem. Like the protected areas, they are to protect an area from the local people, which I think becomes very clear in the way you explained it. And also, like, Martin, I'm quite struck by the idea that they talk about poor people, but ignoring that, you know, their actions that of the Batwa have also caused this poverty. So it's, in a way, you know, first you make people poor and then you kind of insult them almost for being poor and then, you know, acting accordingly.I think that is quite, you know, ignoring what has happened. And I think it's the same with [00:10:00] the general model of conservation. Like the sentences you read, I mean, there is some sympathy in it, you know, it sounds like, "oh, these poor people," you know, "in a way we regret what has happened and that they were evicted."But it's like "those poor people," they don't really look at, you know, why were they evicted and what are the consequences for our kind of conservation today? Like the consequence could be that the Batwa can return to their land because they are the best guardians and because it would give them a base to, to live, not in poverty.So that consequence, they don't see it's because they ignore all the things that have caused the supposed poverty and have caused this kind of conservation that we see. So, don't think about what we've done in the past, we'll just go on, but that is a problem because they don't learn any lessons from what has happened and that land rights should be so important.Chris: Yeah, I think that it definitely points towards this notion that I think a lot of people are becoming apt to in our [00:11:00] times in these days, which is the general kind of approach to the dilemmas in these contexts are to look at the symptoms of the dilemma and not the causes.And in the context of the eviction and exile, displacement of the Batwa people, one of the articles mentions that "one of the consequences of the induced poverty includes the endangering and further endangering of the eastern lowland gorilla." And I mention this because in my research leading up to this interview, this conversation, I looked into the tourism offerings in Kahuzi Biega, in the National Park, and I found the following.I'm just gonna read off a list of what I did find. " Gorilla safaris, or trekking. Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center tours. Camping safaris. Cultural tours. Bird [00:12:00] watching. Hiking. Climbing and boat cruises." And so my next question is this. To what extent does the safari tourism in the national park play a part in this conflict?Linda: Oh, that's a super interesting question. I mean, it obviously depends on the specific park that you look at. But I think I would say in almost any national park that we look at in Survival, there is some kind of idea that this park needs to have tourists. Tourists need to come and go and see the beauty of nature, ideally Western tourists, so that they become involved in conservation and donate money, and also in a way that tourism would be a way to pay for services that are related to maintaining the park.So it's something that usually always pops up. It's kind of, it's like twins a little bit. And, you know, I, I work on, on [00:13:00] mostly German politics and how they relate to this conservation. And it's something that you can't really separate where you read about conservation projects that the German government funds, you will always also read about tourism.So they're very interlinked. In some parks, you know, there isn't a lot of tourism because the situation is not very attractive to western tourists, but the idea is always there. And then the extent to which tourism actually happens obviously differs and then has different effects. In some parks that we work on, There's a lot of tourism, there's a lot of creation of infrastructure for tourists, hotels, for roads, for tourist vehicles to go places.Then it obviously has a much stronger impact on the area and also on the people that live there. If there are less tourists, then the actual effect of tourism is, of course, a little bit less than it might sound in these proposals to have tourists there at all.Chris: In the [00:14:00] context of conflict zones, which from what I understand this particular park in the Congo is a conflict zone, or at least parts of it, that tourism can act as a kind of barrier between local populations or local ecologies and the consequences of those conflict zones, right? But it doesn't necessarily stop the conflict. It just turns it underground, it turns a kind of blind eye to it, waiting, in most instances that I know of, until the organized crime in the area ends up getting, you know, their hands into the economy of, of the tourism itself.Martin: Yeah, I mean, I agree with Linda that it's always there and it's always under the discourse and it's never only about conservation, there's always tourism. And often the national parks are created for this purpose. If you read the UNESCO definition or the IUCN definition of what a national park is, it says it's also for [00:15:00] recreation.So these places are built for tourists. against the locals. So, yeah, it's always there and it's even in the definition.Linda: So yeah, when you said tourism is a barrier in some cases tourism can amplify the problems that are there because there is more eviction or there's more interest of, for example, governments to evict people, to create this great picture of nature, which is so attractive to tourists.So I think, I would find it as something that can really worsen the situation. I think from what I've seen, you know. We sometimes talk about sustainable tourism or respectful tourism, but in the terms of conservation projects, my impression really is that it's been harmful.And the indigenous populations that work in tourism, which is one of the things that funders of conservation projects often [00:16:00] say, that they can find jobs in tourism. A lot of these jobs are not very good. And I would argue that a lot of times people need to take these jobs because they have lost the choice to not take a job and live from the forest.Chris: Yeah, it's an interesting thing to wonder about in the little research that I did around what's happening in this particular park in the Congo, that there are rebel groups. It is a conflict zone, and yet there are these tourism offerings, right? And that surely, the champions of the National Park and conservation and in many areas would say, "well, you know, the more, the more tourism we can get in here the more we can undermine at least the economic causes if not the political ones that are contributing to the violence," when in fact, from what I can understand from Survival's work, that this is just deepens the causes that produced that conflict and that exile in the first place.Linda: Yeah. And I think there's also [00:17:00] perception of injustice, which we shouldn't underestimate. I mean, if you're an indigenous person that has been violently evicted or whose family has been violently evicted from a certain area, and then you see, Western tourists mostly, which are rich, you know, pay a lot of money for these trips, are allowed to go in and use that area in a way. I think that also creates, yeah, a sense of injustice, which is also, yeah, it's quite, quite sad. Chris: Mm hmm. Definitely. And then that's certainly what we see in over touristed places around the world and in places that are just starting to become over touristed, this kind of deep resentment amongst locals for the inequalities, the growing inequalities and yeah, as well, the injustices that these industries bring.And so on that point of conflict zones, especially in and around Kahuzi Biega. I wanted to ask you both a question around the militarization of conservation. So, [00:18:00] some people believe that militarized park police, which is what exists in this park, are a necessary evil.Officially, at least, "the guards protect the park from armed militias or rebel groups in the area, ensuring that they stay out of the park." Of course, those who they confront and sometimes attack also include the indigenous people, the Batwa in this case, who are trying to retake and reclaim their ancestral lands.And the argument is that without the guards, the land would fall into the hands of much more malevolent groups or forces. And so how do you think the presence of armed conflict as well as militarized conservation guards complicates the issue? Linda: That's a tough question. Well, maybe I can just give like a little anecdote.It was actually about this park, the [00:19:00] Kahuzi Biega National Park, and we were talking to German politicians and government officials about the problem of conflict and about the problem that these park rangers you know, are trained and have a lot of weapons, which seems very militant. And they, they were seeing the problem.They were seeing that this is probably not the best thing they should do, support security forces in an area which is already so problematic. But their thinking was, if we don't give them the money, now we have created this this force, basically. We have hired people, we have trained them.Now, if we stop supporting them, what are they going to do? You know, they're gonna maybe take the training and their weapons and make it even worse. So in a way, I mean, this was off record, right? They were just kind of thinking out loud. But in a way, they were seeing that the projects that they have supported have created structures which [00:20:00] very likely will increase conflict.And it seems quite obvious also because you see all these conflicts with indigenous peoples. So, I'm not going to say that it's a very peaceful area and there is not a need maybe for people to defend themselves. But in a way, the structures that we have in militarized conservation are not the solution.You know, they make the situation much more complicated than it initially was. And now, like, in this park, we're in a situation where we witness terrible human rights abuses, and everyone's scared to act and do something because it could get even worse. And it's, yeah, it doesn't seem like a very good solution.I think we need another way. We can't just stick our head, and say, oh, you know, we just go on, we'll just go on and then let someone else deal with it in a few years. I don't think that's a very good solution. Very good example.Martin: And it's questionable also to what extent do these these guards, these armed [00:21:00] rangers actually protect the, the parks and the species because they are here supposedly to fight against illegal wildlife trade and poaching and everything.But what studies have shown is that the root cause of of poaching and of the, of the illegal wildlife trade is mostly the demand for such products that comes from industrialized countries or at least other parts of the world and the system is made for the guards to take action against the local population and not against the actual criminal networks that lead to illegal wildlife trade and poaching.They get money for people they arrest and the easiest people to find are the locals that are trying to get to their ancestral lands. And there's also sometimes the park management involved in these criminal networks. So, you pretend to put in place a system to fight against illegal wildlife trade, but there ends up being no choice but [00:22:00] for the guards to, to take on the local people. Linda: Maybe we should also think about the indigenous populations as guards, or maybe guardians is the better word, of this area. And if we zoom out of the DRC and look at South America, where we have much stronger land rights... it's not perfect, but of course, better for indigenous people.They often act as guardians or guards of these territories, even though they're also confronted with illegal logging, quite brutal illegal logging, for example. But in a way, they are there and they, of course, are supported by authorities ideally, in defending these territories, but you see a less violent or militarized conflict because you have the indigenous guardians, as opposed to starting out with their protected [00:23:00] areas and armed guards, which are not just there to defend themselves, but have extensive rights of use of violence, and they don't have to fear any repercussions if something goes wrong and they kill, for example, an indigenous person.I mean, that's what we've seen in this park, that they can basically act with impunity. Chris: And thank you, Linda, for offering that example of the difference or the contrast between places like the Kahuzi Biega National Park and the DRC and other places in South America, for example, where there is this inherited intergenerational understanding of guardianship and while there's only maybe a half a century of conservation industry in these places, of course, they're an extension of the colonial project or projects that were undertaken much further back in time in places like Africa and places like the DRC before it was known as such.And then what happens, you know, after X amount of [00:24:00] generations after this kind of exile and displacement, that there is no lived memory anymore of what it means to be a guardian of your place. And I don't just mean as a title, but in terms of how you guard that place, as an indigenous person.We might be able to say that the Western world or the modern world that that's very much what we've become is people who are unable to remember or have a lived memory of what it's like to adequately stand as guardians for a place. You know, I think with the work that you two in Survival International are doing, there's a path forward towards that.And I'd like to remind our listeners that we're also here speaking today in part because there was a victory that was won by Survival International on behalf of the Batwa people and activists like yourself. And so I'd like to just read very briefly from [00:25:00] July 2023 press release from Survival International, in which it is said that, quote, "in a landmark decision, the French government has scrapped its plan to fund the controversial Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."France's Minister of State for Development, francophonie and International Partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, confirmed that the plan to begin financing the Kahuzi Biega National Park has been scrapped. Ms. Zacharopoulou said, quote, "It has been abandoned, in line with our requirement for the respect of human rights."So first of all, I'd like to say congratulations to you both and to your teams at Survival for for getting this this victory and for doing the work you need to do in order to get there. And I'd like to [00:26:00] ask about the strategies that were employed in order to revoke French support for the park. You know, so many of these efforts and victories are either ignored in the context of the endless dilemmas or they're celebrated kind of superficially without considering the work it took to organize such campaigns.And so my question is, how has this campaign been organized by Survival International? Martin: Well, to give a bit of context the first time we heard about the French Development Agency planning on funding Kahuzi Biega, it was in the exact same time period as the publication of a report by Minority Rights Group International detailing brutal waves of violence in 2019 and until 2020 of appalling human rights abuses. So, atrocities that including murder, torture, rape [00:27:00] the burning alive of children, the burning of villages. So, we are, in this context, where we are reading the minority rights group report and understanding the scale of these waves of violence against the Batwa.And around the same period, we see that the French Development Agency has been a delegation, including the director, has been to the park and plans on funding it. So, of course we are appalled and and decide to write to the French Development Agency, but also to the to the ministry that has oversight.So, one of them is the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. And then we wait. And then we also got the support of a senator who also sent a letter and asked a question in Parliament to the government about their plan to fund this park in the context of these human rights violations.And so in July 2022, so last year, they decided to suspend temporarily the project. It was also in the context of an internal scandal because there was an expert[00:28:00] in the field and contracted by the French development agency to carry out a feasibility study. And he was basically saying around, and it can be heard in recordings saying that basically the study is just a formality and that the decision to fund the park has already been made.So there's both scandals. An internal scandal about the due diligence apparently being considered a formality on the field and the scandal of the very detailed report that had just gone out about the atrocities. So, that led to a temporary suspension. And they said that they would conclude the study and look into the abuses into social aspects.And then a year passed and we kept sending letters, of course, and doing some public campaigning about it on social media, et cetera. And then the senator asked again a question in July this year, and that's when we learned that the project was cancelled. So, of course, it's a victory, and it shows that sometimes the government actually does have the oversight[00:29:00] on the development agencies and takes the right decisions.But, of course, it's just the whole model still needs to be challenged and the park still has many international backers, even in the context of the atrocities that we that we know about. Chris: Mm. So the senator that asked about the status of the funding and found out that it was in fact scrapped, the scrapping of the funding was never made public until that point?Or there was never any press release saying so? Martin: No, they made it public, In the answer to the question, orally, in, in commission in Parliament. Chris: Mm. And would there be no way that the French public, for example, would be able to find out about this otherwise?Martin: I don't think so. And to be honest, I'm not even sure the decision had been taken before. I think they looked into it again because the senator asked a question again, but that's just speculation. Chris: And you spoke about writing letters, obviously to politicians and to the ministries [00:30:00] and also social media campaigns. Do you think there was more of an effect on the scrapping of the funding because of the public campaign, the social media campaign? Martin: Yeah, I think and that's basically the whole premise on which our campaigns are based is that an efficient mobilization of the public opinion will lead and the fact that the public cares and is informed will lead to a more efficient lobbying and advocacy of the governments and, and other government agencies. So yeah, I think one can't go without the other. And I don't know what would have happened if only the Senator had asked the questions or if only the Senator had asked a question or if we had only sent a letter and no public campaigning at all, or no press release, or no social media, I don't know. So I think, yeah, both go hand in hand.Chris: Mm hmm.So do you think that without the report from the Minority Rights Group, that the funding would have gone ahead, regardless of what was actually happening there? Martin: It's possible because we know that the funders were aware for years and [00:31:00] years of the human rights violations. And even before the waves of violence that are described in the report, we know that they were aware of that risk of violence at that time and of the human rights violation in the whole context of the militarized park.So, I think it could have very well gone ahead, because the other funders knew and kept funding it. And yeah, it's very important to get that kind of report with very detailed testimonies and information from the ground, and really documenting these atrocities. Otherwise, it's just business as usual.Chris: And the original proposal for the funding at least by the French government or the ministries involved, they were basically just promoting conservation in the way that it typically is. That's what the funding was for? Martin: Well, it's hard to know because they never published anything and actually, they never actually started funding it.It was just, just a project. Like I said, they went on a visit there and started making [00:32:00] promise to the local conservation agencies and to the local authorities. It's not clear to this day what exactly they were planning on funding, but it was clearly stated that there were planning on supporting the park itself, but I don't know for which kind of activities, but still, funding the same structure that that has been responsible for these abuses is still unacceptable.Chris: Mm hmm sounds "sketchy," as we say in English. And and so for our listeners, just a little bit of further context while France simply abandoned plans, the country had not yet made, or the government had not yet made, Germany continues to finance the park despite France's, however, subtle acknowledgment of human rights violations.And so, Linda, my question for you is, first of all, why is Germany funding a national park in the DRC to begin with? And, if you know, [00:33:00] how does that money get spent? Linda: Well, I guess the, the German interest in this park is pretty old, so the German government started funding the park already in the 80s.And there were some other projects even before that, supposedly. But it's considered to be a very, well, it obviously is a very long running project financed by the German government. And some local people call it the German park, because they assume that without the German funding, it wouldn't even exist. Like the kind of money that has been given over decades and the kind of things that have been funded, the infrastructure, the Congolese conservation authorities, the park rangers, you know, all the things that were funded basically crucial for the park to function. So yeah, it is a very German funded project. And also the German government has for very, a very long time looked at it as being a prestigious [00:34:00] project.You know, it was this great park, the gorillas, you already mentioned it, you know, and the Germans been funding it, which when you know a bit about German history, post World War II, there was a lot of interest in biodiversity and conservation funding because it was a good thing to do, which gave Germany a little bit of a different international picture than it had after the war.So there was a lot of interest in funding projects, and they were perceived as being fantastic, and they were shown to be these great projects that Germany is supporting internationally. And then, obviously, it isn't, but the German government has been very, very good at denying that there are these problems, and the role that it has had in facilitating these horrific human rights abuses. Mm. Chris: And how, if at all, has the German government responded to the [00:35:00] scrapping of the French funding? Linda: Very good timing, because I just got a response today, actually from the German government. Mm. 'cause we did point out to them that the French government has decided to not fund the park because of the violations of indigenous people's rights and because of human rights concerns. So we pointed this out to the ministry again, just in case, they would not have learned about this themselves. But the reply basically doesn't address this at all. You know, this was what we wrote the letter about and the replies about all the great things that the German government keeps funding and the improvements it is supposedly seeing on the ground and these improvements justifying their continued support.So it's just a letter explaining why they continue funding it and not addressing why maybe partners like the French government have decided not to fund it. And it's something that we have seen over the years. I think [00:36:00] survival first raised human rights violations in the Kahuzi Biega National Park in actually 2017, so that's quite a few years ago.There was a Batwa family. A father with his son, a teenage son. They were going into the park to collect herbs for medicine because another son of the family was sick. They encountered park rangers who killed the teenager and hurt wounded the father. So it was quite a terrible incident.And the father wrote to the German government, to the funders, and he complained about these human rights violations and the fact that the Batwa had lost access to the park and to their livelihood because of the German funding. The German government just said, "well, you know, there's not much we can do about it, basically."They tried to pay some money, but then really nothing, nothing else happened. And over the years, the situation hasn't improved. It has [00:37:00] gotten worse. But the German government keeps saying that they have faith in the Congolese conservation authorities and they do not see grounds to stop the funding or the project.They keep saying that they see progress. And things will get better. And we know it hasn't gone better. Chris: I'd like to return anyways to this this question around tactics and strategies and organizing. It seems that activists and those not directly involved in social movements struggle with the weight of our times.I mean, it's you know, kind of hard to ignore these days. And so, given that the German government, I imagine, is the obvious next target in the campaign to defund Kahuzi Biega, or at least the conservation authorities and programs there, what tactics, what strategies are being employed by Survival in your campaigns, [00:38:00] and how might our listeners in Germany, France, Europe, and, and beyond, how might they participate?Linda: That's a very good question, because, as I said, you know, Survival has been working on this for a few years, and there's a little bit of frustration, of course, that not much is happening in the terms of acknowledging the problem of funding this park. I think what Survival, what we're thinking is, quite important in this issue of conservation is making sure that donors in the West understand that this is a very symptomatic problem.So, a lot of conservation projects function like this and it is because there is this underlying problem with them, that they do not acknowledge land rights. But they continue to say that certain government authorities or certain conservation organizations are best put to run these places. It's the same with the [00:39:00] Kahuzi Biega National Park.The German government now says, "well, we know there are problems, so we pull in the WCS. They're the conservation organization and everything will be better. But it won't because they also have a record of not respecting indigenous people's rights. So, we need to make them understand that there is this underlying issue of not acknowledging indigenous people's land rights.And we try to do this by pointing out that this is a problem which is happening in a lot of national parks. So, protected areas that Survival has looked at in Africa and Asia, almost all of them, even the ones that we were told were good examples, have these problems. And we try to show that to the donors that have such big impact on these conservation projects and make them rethink what they're doing.It's a very difficult process, of course, because they've always done it in a different way. And now it's hard for them to think [00:40:00] about, you know, giving control and power to local people, which until now they've always said is a threat to conservation. It's like a total turn of what they assumed so far.But for us, it seems like that's the thing that we have to do for them to actually acknowledge the problem, because otherwise all the solutions that they come up with are not real solutions. They put people like the WCS in power, which is also not going to respect the Batwas' rights. Chris: Yeah, I think one of the critiques around development is in the context of these industries, especially things like conservation, volunteerism is another one that as industries, you would imagine that they would have in their mission statement, or vision, or ten-year plan, the slow and intentional disappearance of their own industry, right? Because if what they were [00:41:00] doing was working, we would need less of them. And there would be less of them, but here we are, right? And it's just, of course, a massively growing industry, both conservation and volunteerism. Martin: Yeah, it's true that our key targets are the donors, because like many of the issues that indigenous peoples are facing across the world, the root of the problem and the funding for these problems come from the West and our societies. So that's going to remain one of our targets and key part of the strategy. I think we are starting to see a shift in the discourse, in France, at least. And when we talk to the politicians, we also see that shift, that shift in the discourse of the conservation NGOs, but it's still as harmful. So instead of saying that these places are wild and empty and that the local artists are destroying it or encroaching, well, they still say it, but they also say that what we were saying before about the poverty issue and that [00:42:00] they will generate new projects and new activities and development basically.So, I think that they are starting to acknowledge the presence of these people. They couldn't be further from recognizing their land rights because, like you said, otherwise it means their own disappearance, and they're not built for that. Linda: Yeah, so it's a difficult, it's a difficult thing. I mean, I think we try to talk to people that are more inclined to understand the importance of indigenous people's rights so that we can have a base of people that support our campaigning, which is very important for us.And then we select our targets and try to engage the people that support us in convincing these targets to change projects or change their minds. And sometimes, you know, that can just be it a tweet that texts someone who we know makes decisions about certain [00:43:00] projects, try to raise awareness that there is concern about this project, that some people disagree, that this doesn't comply with human rights, that this doesn't comply with, agreements or treaties they're supporting for indigenous people's rights.And sometimes it's a more complex lobbying strategy. So there are different things we try to do and sometimes, like we saw with the example of the French government, sometimes it works because there's timing, there's different things coming together. But obviously, even though we have a lot of strategies, it's always difficult to know what will work in the end.So we try different things and try to engage with people that will help us spread the word about the need to decolonize conservation and do it differently and acknowledge land rights. And sometimes it's little things that really change a lot. Sometimes we work on something for a long time and it wasn't the right strategy and we need to change.[00:44:00] Chris: Well, speaking of how might our listeners find out more about Survival International and the decolonize conservation campaigns and especially around the work that you two are doing. Martin: Well, I strongly encourage people to read more of our campaigns on the website, on social media, also to subscribe to our newsletter, because that's where we mostly share our urgent actions.So which are one of our tools to put pressure on the targets. So, mass emails basically sent by our supporters to the targets about specific projects. And we also publish some video, direct video testimonies in our tribal voice projects, as we call it.So if they want to listen to, to the victims explaining the problems they are facing, but also the way of life that they have lost or sometimes more inspiring things about the resistance and and the fight. I think it's also very interesting to hear directly from the people affected.But yeah, I strongly encourage people to join the movement by [00:45:00] any means possible. And sometimes as Linda said, just small actions like a tweet or sending an email through these campaigns can be can really make an impact and and it does help ensure that the advocacy and the lobbying is effective.Linda: Yeah, and I think it's also a nice way to picture that you're showing solidarity with, for example, the Batwa, who often perceive the Western donors as being the cause of their problem. And I think for them, it's nice to see that there are also people in the countries that, where the problems originate that are standing up for their rights and supporting them.And I think it's probably the least we can do also, because we're so obsessed with African nature that I think it would be a very good step for us to think about the people that live in these places.Chris: Yeah, absolutely. And maybe not immediately or superficially in part because of the inundations and the dilemmas in our times, but that kind of [00:46:00] solidarity can begin to break down as well, the largely like unconscious nationalist tendencies we have when we think of other people in other countries, we always associate those people with their governments, right?Which is just like, absolutely ridiculous when anyone thinks of themselves in relation to their own government, right? But these are two faces, two voices of the resistance that are working on behalf of many others.And so I just wanted to reiterate that we're here today just to have the chance to be able to speak about a little bit about this this small victory that all willing will lead to many more to much bigger ones in regards to the Decolonize Conservation campaign of Survival International.It takes work and I'm grateful to be able to speak with you both today and to have you share some of your work and your dedication with our listeners and I will make sure that all of those links that you mentioned, Martin, will be on the End of Tourism website and available for our [00:47:00] listeners to sign up to the newsletter and follow on social media and of course participate if they so wish.Thank you both. Linda: Thanks. Martin: Thank you.​ Get full access to ⌘ Chris Christou ⌘ at chrischristou.substack.com/subscribe

I was instantly captivated when I first discovered Crystal DiMicelli's podcast, Forces for Nature. You know that feeling when you find someone who shares your passion and vibe on a level that just feels right? Well, that's exactly what I felt when I tuned in!You see, Crystal and I share a deep love for conservation and wildlife issues, and like me, Crystal understands that the “doom and gloom” narrative is not the most effective when inspiring change. Instead, on her podcast, she spotlights conservation success stories, expert insights, and even provides listeners with concrete action steps they can take,  leaving them feeling energized and empowered instead of hopeless and helpless. In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I dive into the world of wildlife wins, environmental victories, and effective conservation communication through my interview with Crystal. With her 20 years of experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education, Crystal brings a unique perspective on why staying positive is a game-changer in creating meaningful change.Since launching her podcast to highlight stories of individuals working to protect animals and habitats, Crystal has inspired countless listeners with her message of optimism and empowerment. From this episode, you'll come away feeling refreshed and ready to take positive action, just as Crystal encourages. Learn simple, everyday choices you can make to shrink your environmental footprint, gain insight into how Crystal overcomes introversion to spread her greater call to action, and get plugged into awesome resources to create change in your community!Specifically, we discussed:Crystal's journey to becoming a professional science communicator including fieldwork with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteThe vision behind Forces for Nature and why she created itHer successful collaborations with various conservation organizationsThe importance of highlighting success stories in the environmental realmThe impactful climate change education program for K-12 and university students she's created  Her favorite podcast episodes that she's done thus farAnd MORE!!Make sure to download Crystal's free guide: Becoming a Force for Nature so that you don't become overwhelmed by all the doom and gloom you hear and start taking practical actions today!https://forcesfornature.com/fancyscientist/ I'm Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It's Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life's purpose and make a difference in this world.Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I'd love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiologyListen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fancy-scientist-material-girl-living-in-sustainable/id1509587394 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW

African forest elephants play a crucial role in shaping the Congo rainforest ecosystem, two experts explain on this episode. As seed dispersers and maintainers of forest corridors and clearings, they are sometimes referred to as "gardeners of the forest."    Their small and highly threatened population needs additional study and conservation prioritization, since the loss of this species would fundamentally change the shape and structure of the world's second-largest rainforest.   Guest Fiona "Boo" Maisels is a conservation scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society, while Andrew Davies is assistant professor of organismic and evolutionary biology at Harvard University, and they speak with host Mike DiGirolamo about these charismatic mammals.     Please invite your friends to subscribe to the Mongabay Newscast wherever they get podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, or download our free app in the Apple App Store or in the Google Store to get access to our latest episodes at your fingertips.   If you enjoy the Newscast, please visit www.patreon.com/mongabay to pledge a dollar or more to keep the show growing, Mongabay is a nonprofit media outlet and all support helps!   See all our latest news from nature's frontline at Mongabay's homepage, mongabay.com, or follow Mongabay on any of the social media platforms for updates.   Image credit: A calf attempts to sneak its trunk into a mineral pit that mom is drinking from. Protest calls are often heard from calves in this behavioral context, as mom sometimes pushes them away and they in turn express their displeasure with a little yell. Photo Ana Verahrami, Elephant Listening Project.   --- Timecodes    (00:00) Introduction (02:00) There are two African elephant species? (06:06) Can the "value" of an elephant be quantified? (19:30) The value of forest bais (27:25) Impacts of climate change (30:30) The future of forest elephants in the Congo Basin (38:44) Credits

This bonus episode is an impromptu roundtable discussion that was part of a working group at the Santa Fe Institute in February 2024 on biodiversity and the sustainable development goals. The Santa Fe Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to the study of complex adaptive systems. It was founded in 1984 by a group of scientists, many affiliated with with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. SFI host a range of gatherings at different scales, form public conferences to small working groups. This working group was organized by two SFI affiliated scholars: Andy Dobson who is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton and Monique Borgerhoff Mulder, an evolutionary anthropologist who is at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. They group included scholars and practitioners from the social and behavioral sciences, conservation biology and ecology and law. The focus on the group was the question of how to jumpstart progress on halting biodiversity loss in the context of the the UN sustainable development goals. The conversation in this podcast is with several members in the working group. The others in the conversation were Liam Smith, an expert in behavioral change and the director of BehaviorWorks Australia at Monash University; Tim O'Brien, an ecologist who worked for decades at the Wildlife Conservation Society; Margaret Kinnaird, an ecologist and the Global Wildlife Practice Leader at the World Wildlife Fund for Nature – International; Matt Turner, a post-doc and expert on computational modeling at the Stanford School of Sustainability; and Tim Caro, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Bristol.

This week, I get the opportunity to talk with Stephanie Cook about her career journey and most recent experiences with the National Audubon Society. We talk about how her broad higher education experience prepared her to work in a more niche area with a non-natural constituency base.   Stephanie Cook brings over 20 years of experience to her work as a fundraising executive for the National Audubon Society—leading operations, donor services, and fundraising teams on behalf of the international conservation NGO. Prior to joining Audubon, she led NYC-based regional advancement teams for Syracuse University and Villanova University, where she led teams of development professionals charged with building relationships with and securing philanthropic support from alumni, parents, and friends. Her early career included service as a major gift officer for Columbia University and the Wildlife Conservation Society as well as in support of the fundraising efforts on behalf of the Central Park Conservancy. She is a native of Madison, Wisconsin and holds a BFA from the University of Kentucky in acting/theatre and an MS from Columbia University in fundraising and non-profit management. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

The international shark fin trade is a billion-dollar industry. It is also driving declines in shark populations around the world. In this episode, we are joined by Luke Warwick, expert in global shark policy, to learn how CITES - an international agreement between governments to regulate trade in endangered species - could help protect sharks and rays from overexploitation. In particular, we discuss a landmark vote that occurred in 2022, which saw 90% of the fin trade come under regulation almost overnight. Luke walks us through what has happened in the year since, from getting the vote passed to implementing the new regulations at local level. And, we discuss some of the trials and tribulations of trying to get 100+ countries to agree on something, especially when most of them have a vested interest... You can learn more about Luke and his work with the Wildlife Conservation Society on twitter (@WCSsharks) and here https://www.wcs.org/our-work/wildlife/sharks-skates-rays. You can also check out the shownotes for this episode here www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast For more sharky content, find us on social media! We are @saveourseasfoundation on instagram, and @SaveOurSeas on twitter.   

Authorities confirm the person who died in a Harlem fire on Friday was 27-year-old Fazil Khan, a data journalist from India. The fire was caused by a lithium ion battery and 17 other people were injured. Plus, President Biden is expected to be in New York City Monday afternoon for a campaign fundraiser and drivers should expect extensive road delays. Finally, the tragic death of Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl who famously escaped from the Central Park Zoo last year, has saddened New York City's birding community. The Wildlife Conservation Society reported that Flaco seems to have collided with a building on West 89th Street this past Friday. This incident brings to the forefront a critical question: How can New York City become a safer habitat for birds? WNYC's David Furst talks with the New York City Audubon's Director of Conservation and Science, Dustin Partridge, to get answers.

Thanks for joining us for Season 3 of the WCS Wild Audio podcast. We'll be back in a couple weeks with Season 4, featuring all new stories from the Wildlife Conservation Society's global conservation program, zoos and aquarium, and conservation partners. In the meantime, here are some highlights from our recent conversations with WCS staff and colleagues working across the planet to protect wildlife and wild places.

Deforestation is one of the leading threats to biodiversity globally. The world is losing over 10 billion trees annually. Over half the three trillion trees on our planet have been lost. But why should you care? Because YOU are a victim of deforestation.Over 1.6 billion people directly rely on forests for subsistence, in the form of food, fuel, medicine, bushmeat, and fodder for livestock grazing. Moreover, even urban populations rely on forests for crucial ecosystem services, such as reliable clean water, climate regulation, air purification and productive soils. Unfortunately, deforestation and land degradation cost the world $6.3 trillion every year.Moreover, forests are critical for biodiversity and tackling climate change. Globally, 68% of mammal species and 75% of bird species are found in forests. Additionally, forests play a critical role in carbon regulation in the atmosphere, hence stabilizing climatic patterns globally.In this episode, I interview April Bagwill, the program officer of Trillion Trees, a collaboration between three leading wildlife NGOs, BirdLife International, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund. The initiative aims to restore 20 million hectares of forests while protecting 105 million hectares of forests under improved management systems. In this episode, we discuss the principles, challenges and process of restoration while also dwelling on the organizations' projectsIf you enjoyed this podcast, do not forget to share and subscribe! You can also listen to The Think Wildlife Podcast on other platforms, such as YouTube, Spotify and iTunes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anishbanerjee.substack.com

Today were talking to Dr. Sharon Deem, Director of the Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine. Prior to this, Dr. Deem worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society and Smithsonian National Zoo. A veterinarian and epidemiologist by trade, she is also the current president of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. Dr. Deem has conducted conservation and research projects in over 30 countries around the world, many of which are in Africa and South America.  In this episode, we're going to cover her focus on how disease and environmental changes affect wildlife populations, and her work with endangered species, such as lemurs and turtles.

We share tips on how to make easy recipes using the meats already in your freezer, foods that work with you rather than against you and a recap of top news headlines everyone should know about. This is Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' and Jeff ‘Tigger' Erhardt with the radio show The Bend Radio Show & Podcast, your news outlet for the latest in the Outdoors & Western Lifestyle! NEWS OPERATION VIPER: ILLEGAL SNAKE TRAFFICKING RING BUSTED Fox 35, Orlando, reported in January 2023 that Florida's Wildlife Officials had arrested eight people for illegal snake trafficking. Traffickers were bought and sold, hundreds of snakes, some venomous.  During the three-year investigation, called "Operation Viper, the Florida Fish and Wildlife commission said in a news release that nearly 200 snakes - consisting of 24 species from seven different regions of the globe - were purchased or sold by undercover FWC investigators to or from wildlife traffickers. Wildlife trafficking ranks fourth behind drugs, weapons and humans in global activity according to the FWC. The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates illicit wildlife trafficking to be between $7.8 billion and $10 billion per year. CANADIAN SUPER PIGS THREATEN TO INVADE US A new wild pig problem is on the horizon officials are warning. Wild pigs are nothing new to the United States, that is a 400-plus year history of dealing with invasive wild hogs. According to the University of Saskatchewan's Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, the wild pig issue is relatively new. "We didn't have any here until the early 1980s," says Dr. Ryan Book who leads their project. "There was a big push to diversify agriculture with species like wild boars and ostriches. Wild boars were brought in from Europe to be raised on farms across Canada."   Fast Forward. These pigs were crossbred with wild boars and domesticated pigs. The hybridization resulted in bigger "super pigs" capable of surviving cold climates. The market for these new hogs dropped out in the early 2000s, thus some escaped operations while others were simply let free as there was no one to sell them to. These pigs have an extraordinarily high reproductive rate and are predicted to now roam nearly 620,000 square miles of Canada, mostly in the Provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. The states most affected by these Canadian Super Pigs are North Dakota, Eastern Montana and Northern Minnesota.   THREAT TO WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK & HUMANS Wild boar, razorback, feral hog, wild pig. Those are just a few of the names for one of the most destructive, formidable invasive species in the United States. Tremendous damages from these animals currently cost the United States up to $2.5 billion annually to crops, forestry, livestock, and pastures. Feral swine present great risks to human health and safety as well as they can harbor and transmit dozens of parasites and diseases. Landowners or hunters who encounter feral pigs in North Dakota must notify the State Board of Animal Health immediately.  The shooting of feral pigs is illegal in North Dakota unless a person is protecting property or livestock. CALL Observe or suspect the presence of feral pigs, MAKE THE CALL. North Dakota Board of Animal Health at 701-328-2655, Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300, or United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services at 701-250-4405.   FEATURE HOW TO IMPROVE FROZEN MEATS It becomes confusing in the store at times when you see meat nicely cut, looking fresh versus frozen. Often one assumes those may be the most nutritious or healthiest. That is not entirely true. Almost all meats are frozen at some point before put into the meat counter case, so the display is what looks nicer behind the meat counter than in the freezer aisle.   Don't be afraid to save a little money purchasing frozen meats. They too are very healthy and regardless if it meat you harvested or raised yourself, or meat purchased all can become nutritious meals for the family. The most important thing to watch for when cooking with meat that's been frozen is to watch when thawing for freezer burned areas. Those areas that have turned discolored from too long in the freezer. I won't break down how long is "too long" , that's for another day, but the first step is to dig in your freezer to pull out a package of meat and begin thawing.   Best practice for thawing is to do so in your refrigerator over a day or so, or however long it takes to become unfrozen. However we are all always in a rush so the use of a microwave or placing in a sealed plastic bag in hot water is too acceptable methods. If you fear the meat is at all a tougher cut, there are two major tricks to conquering the chewy toughness meat from beef to venison to chicken.   Once meat is not frozen, trim, place in a pan or sealed bag or container and graciously cover in a marinade. Simply purchase a pre-made marinade or google for some quick easy homemade marinades. Leave in the marinade for a minimum of an hour, but my best meats are when they can sit for 24 hours in the refrigerator.   Second tip is the actual cooking process. If you are wanting fall off the bone, consider using an instant pot for a quick turnaround time otherwise cook in your crockpot over the course of the day. If you want to fry quickly, turn your oven on at 400 degrees. Using an oven safe frying pan such as cast iron, heat the frying pan on the stove and make sure your pan is HOT. Sear all sides and then place the frying pan with meat in the oven, turning the oven down to 350. Using a meat thermometer check the meat temperature to ensure it is done to your liking.   Enjoy! Have questions on cooking or recipes for us to try, send them our way!   FIELD REPORTS & COMMENTS Field Report: Heather Krohe, Little Rack Taxidermy Call or Text your questions, or comments to 305-900-BEND or 305-900-2363 Or email BendRadioShow@gmail.com FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @thebendshow https://www.facebook.com/thebendshow SUBSCRIBE to The Bend YouTube Channel. Website: TheBendShow.com https://thebendshow.com/ #catchBECifyoucan #tiggerandbec #outdoors #travel #cowboys The Outdoors, Rural America, And Wildlife Conservation are Center-Stage. AND how is that? Because Tigger & BEC… Live This Lifestyle. Learn more about Jeff ‘Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/ WESTERN LIFESTYLE & THE OUTDOORS Tigger & BEC are News Broadcasters that represent the Working Ranch world, Rodeo, and the Western Way of Life as well as advocate for the Outdoors and Wildlife Conservation. Outdoorsmen themselves, this duo strives to provide the hunter, adventurer, cowboy, cowgirl, rancher and/or successful farmer, and anyone interested in agriculture with the knowledge, education, and tools needed to bring high-quality beef and the wild game harvested to your table for dinner. They understand the importance in sharing meals with family, cooking the fruits of our labor and fish from our adventures, and learning to understand the importance of making memories in the outdoors. Appreciate God's Country. United together, this duo offers a glimpse into and speaks about what life truly is like at the end of dirt roads and off the beaten path. Tigger & BEC look forward to hearing from you, answering your questions and sharing in the journey of making your life a success story. Adventure Awaits Around The Bend. References FWC: Illegal snake trafficking ring sends multiple people to jail in Florida Population Explosion of Canadian "Super Pigs" Could Spread Into the Northern U.S.  

The global community has set a goal of preserving thirty percent of our oceans by 2030. How will we reach that goal? And what's at stake for ocean biodiversity if that target is missed?  Monica Medina is the president and CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society, and the former United States' Special Envoy for Biodiversity and Water Resources. Global Reboot is produced in partnership with the Doha Forum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week representatives from across the globe are gathering in Dubai for the 28th Conference of the Parties, or COP, of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Wildlife Conservation Society will have a large delegation attending. They're focused on issues essential to addressing the climate crisis that range from preserving ecological integrity to the empowerment of Indigenous peoples. WCS President and CEO Monica Medina leads the delegation and spoke with Wild Audio for this report. Reporting: Nat MossGuest: Monica Medina

Welcome to the ninth episode of the Remembering Wildlife Podcast Series, where host Amy embarks on an exploration into the world of leopard conservation. In this episode, we're privileged to have Dr. Katy Williams from the Cape Leopard Trust in South Africa, along with two distinguished guests, Dr. Zalmai Moheb and Dr. Stephane Ostrowski from the Wildlife Conservation Society in Afghanistan.In the first part of the episode, Dr. Katy Williams provides insights into the challenges faced by the leopard population in the Cape of South Africa, including the threat of snaring. Dive into the significance of the 'snare-free' initiative and understand how it plays a crucial role in safeguarding these majestic creatures. Katy also sheds light on the nurturing of the next generation of female conservationists in South Africa.In the second part, we journey to the high altitudes of Afghanistan to unravel the mysteries of the "ghost of the mountains" – the snow leopard. Dr. Zalmai Moheb and Dr. Stephane Ostrowski share their experiences and insights into the hostile conditions these elusive big cats, and conservationists, face. Explore the innovative approaches, such as predator-proof corrals in communities and collaring, employed by conservationists striving to save the snow leopard.Discover the impact of the Remembering Wildlife books, a collection of books that depicts the lives of eight captivating species through the lenses of over 250 extraordinary wildlife photographers, and learn how the proceeds have supported both the Cape Leopard Trust and the Wildlife Conservation Society in Afghanistan.This episode unveils the secretive nature of these big cats, presenting the challenges that are faced in leopard conservation efforts.Looking to grab a copy of any Remembering Wildlife books? Head to https://rememberingwildlife.com to show your support for over 60 conservation initiatives!

Ecological integrity represents an essential element for a sustainable planet by 2033 and beyond. Consider the importance of coral in safeguarding the food ecosystem within global communities, both affluent and impoverished. Approximately 40% of the world's population lives near or on the coastlines, relying significantly on the ecological balance of these areas.Coral plays a vital role in preserving the ocean's ecosystem, responsible for absorbing up to 90% of all carbon emissions. Nevertheless, 15% of the tracked coral fields have already been lost worldwide. Suggestions to relocate bleached or dying coral to aquariums, sparked by record-high sea temperatures in Florida in 2023, are neither scalable nor a feasible long-term solution to safeguard coral.The critical approach involves identifying resilient coral types that thrive under extreme climate conditions, such as typhoons and warmer waters. It's an imminent challenge necessitating a substantial database on coral responses to these climate variables. The key is empowering citizen scientists globally, whether in Fiji, Mauritius, Florida, or elsewhere, to collect crucial data on how coral adapts to diverse climatic conditions.Emily Darling, overseeing strategy, partnerships, and impact for WCS's global coral reef portfolio across 16 countries, co-founded MERMAID (Marine Ecological Research Management AID; datamermaid.org). Through MERMAID, citizen scientists collect local coral visuals, which are then sent to the cloud for processing into a Postgres DB utilizing AI tools. This process, previously costing hundreds of millions and taking months, can now be completed within hours.This signifies a prime instance of how basic technology, such as affordable underwater cameras, easy data sharing, and AI applications, can markedly contribute to the planet's sustainability. The open systems and the power of AI-driven networks formed by well-intentioned amateurs are influencing significant positive change.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join me for a celebration of the 100th episode of the Unstoppably Creative podcast! Today features my special guest host --my longtime friend, colleague, fellow multi-creative, and always magical human, Kevin Duda! In this raw interview we'll touch on life lessons, career pivots, funny stories and a deep dive into my musical Fetching Water that I've been sharing with you throughout this journey! A little about Kevin Duda: Kevin Duda Productions focuses on the creation & development of entertainment and media properties in both classic form and those that break traditional boundaries.‍As an Executive & Creative Producer for Hallmark Channel, Kevin is represented by "In The Key of Love," "Two Turtle Doves," (Winner of the 2019 Christopher Award for Excellence in TV 2019), and "A New Year's Resolution."Working with cruise industry heavyweights, we have produced and developed fresh and forward-thinking entertainment as well as special events and commercials for clients including JW Marriott, The Wildlife Conservation Society, Bank of America, Playbill, March For Our Lives, Broadway Cares and The Actors Fund.
In his former career, Kevin is proud to have been a member of the Original Broadway Casts of The Book of Mormon and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical and in the revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.Links mentioned in this episode:#14: How to Successfully Bring Back a Project from the Past#82: Creative Patience: How to Trust That the Time Will Be Right#16: How Matthew McConaughey Helped Me Lose Five Pounds

Join us on a trip to the Mongolian steppe!You don't need to be a mammal lover to find these creatures fascinating. Saiga antelopes have been around and unchanged since the last ice age when they roamed the Mongolian plains with woolly mammoths. But the saigas haven't had an easy run for the past years. In 2016/2017 a massive disease outbreak that had spilled over from domestic livestock caused them to die by the tens of thousands. This episode's guest, Dr. Enkhtuvshin Shiilegdamba, called Enkee, led the investigations and shares her experience. Enkee has had an impressive career in epidemiology and One Health that brought her to the US to study and research at UC Davis and back to her home country, Mongolia. After many years with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Enkee currently works as a transboundary animal disease specialist consultant for the Worldbank and the FAO. We are taking a speed tour through her career journey and wonderful and challenging experiences she had on the way. Links Enkee's profile on LinkedIn: https://mn.linkedin.com/in/enkee-enkhtuvshin-shiilegdamba-50128413 An article from 2019 on Saiga conservation in Mongolia from Enkee: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/08/with-new-protections-saiga-antelope-may-continue-to-be-a-symbol-of-central-asia-commentary/

In this episode, we meet Bodhi Patil. Bodhi Patil is a UN-recognized, award-winning GenZ ocean-climate “Solutionist” dedicated to improving the interconnectedness between ocean health and human health. He is the Founder & CEO of Inner Light, empowering a generation to build resilience from the inside out for people and planetary wellbeing. He is co-creator/cofounder of Ocean Uprise and SeaDragon Studios and advises several love-based climate organizations on a mission to protect our blue planet. He has been featured by the United Nations, Forbes, Economist Impact, Wildlife Conservation Society, Oceanic Global, and has presented to world leaders at over 10 global climate conferences. Connect with him and learn more about his mission here. We learn about the Tom's of Maine Incubator Program and how to apply! We learn about Bodhi's love and passion for the ocean We learn about why the ocean is so important for life in all forms Follow and connect with Bodhi on socials: Instagram: @bodhi_patil Twitter: @bodhi_patil LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bodhipatil/ Apply to the Tom's of Maine Incubator Program! https://www.tomsofmaine.com/incubator Check out Bodhi's amazing website: https://www.innerlight.tv/ Organizations Bodhi mentioned to check out: Ocean Uprise https://oceanuprise.com/ Sustainable Ocean Alliance https://www.soalliance.org/ Earth Echo https://www.earthecho.org/ Bodhi's book recommendation: Blue Mind - Dr. Wallace J. Nichols

Charles and Jon talk to Professor Joel Berger from his home in Colorado. Joel has spent a lifetime studying 'extreme species in extreme places' as a senior scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society and at Colorado State University and the University of Montana. He has worked on many mammals including Huemul in Chile, Musk Ox in Russia and Pronghorn in the USA. And he has focussed his work on some of the larger and unsung species that live in the world's deserts (of all types). In an entertaining chat, Professor Berger talks about some of the many highlights in a distinguished career that has seen him a three time finalist for the Indianapolis Prize, receive a lifetime achievement recognition from the prestigious Aldo Leopold Conservation Award and be featured in the Archie comic! Some of his adventures over the years include being mistaken for a CIA agent - and put on trial - in the Russian arctic, being charged by multiple Moose, and dressing up as a Polar Bear to try to frighten Musk Oxen.Here is the YouTube trailerFor more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcastNotes: Joel Berger has written several books, dozens of articles and won many awards. You can learn more about him - and his work - on his website. Jon's report from his latest California trip is here.Cover art: Joel Berger discarding his Polar Bear Suit.Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 100 countries

La bióloga y máster en Ciencias de la conservación conversó con Cristián Warnken sobre la planificación en la conservación de la biodiversidad y en el desarrollo de soluciones basadas en la naturaleza que contribuyen a la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático.

 Jane Alexander is an actress, author, and former Chairperson of the National Endowment of the Arts. In 1969, Jane received a Tony Award for her performance as Eleanor Bachman in the Broadway production of The Great White Hope. Jane received her first Emmy nomination for her role as Eleanor Roosevelt in Eleanor and Franklin. Over her career, she has received two Primetime Emmy Awards—as well as nominations for eight Tony Awards, four Academy Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards—and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1994. Today, Jane is involved in conservation efforts and has served on the boards of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Audubon Society, and Project Greenhope, among others. She is the author of Wild Things, Wild Places and Command Performance. Today, you'll hear Jane discuss how she grew up loving the beauty of the land while living in Massachusetts. She shares how watching a ballet performance for the first time sparked her love for theater and the performing arts. She outlines her process for inhabiting a character or a role and describes how she studied her role as Eleanor Roosevelt in Eleanor and Franklin. Jane also highlights what it's like to be an understudy, details her experience serving as the chairperson of the National Endowment of the Arts, and offers advice to young people about pursuing their passion. “The whole business of exploration—which caught me as a child in the outside world, exploring the sunken garden—transitioned to the exploration of the mind and the human body in acting.” - Jane Alexander This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores: ●     Jane's background and early years in Massachusetts●     How Jane's parents reacted to her pursuit of theater as a career●     Her studies in mathematics and computer programming●     Her time at the University of Edinburgh and performances as Ophelia in Hamlet and as Nora in The Plough and the Stars●     What it was like to hang out with Dudley Moore and John Gleeson as university students●     Jane's experience as an understudy and what stand-ins do when they're not performing●     Her first leading roles and focus on the classics●     Jane's process for inhabiting a role or character●     Why Jane declined to be part of The Actors Studio●     How Jane played Eleanor Roosevelt in Eleanor and Franklin ●     Handling negative receptions of performances●     Jane's service as the chairperson of the National Endowment of the Arts●     Today's public support for the arts and Jane's work in conservation Our Favorite Quotes: ●     “Art is part of everybody's persona and privilege.” - Jane Alexander●     “We are put on this Earth to witness and experience all the joy that we can give to each other—that includes the things that grow and live.” - Jane Alexander Connect with Jane Alexander: ●     Jane Alexander Website●     Book: Command Performance: An Actress In The Theater Of Politics●     Book: Wild Things, Wild Places: Adventurous Tales of Wildlife and Conservation on Planet Earth●     Jane Alexander on Twitter Spaceship Not Required I'm Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean. I'm an explorer, and that doesn't always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action. In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required. Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores. Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead! Don't forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts! Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

Charles and Jon talk to Luke Hunter, the director of the Big Cat Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society and one of the world's leading experts on wild carnivore conservation. Luke discusses his work to protect Lions in west and central Africa, the reintroduction of Cheetahs in India, and a tragic story of Cheetah conservation in Iran. We also talk about the growing potential of wild cat eco-tourism around the world and how giving a child a set of toy zoo animals can spark a lifetime of mammal research (or mammalwatching in Jon's case).For more information visit www.mammalwatching.com/podcastNotes: Luke has written hundreds of articles and eight books including Carnivores of the World which - we believe - every mammalwatcher should have in their library. Here's an article about the Cheetah researchers who are imprisoned in Iran.Cover art:  Luke Hunter at work  Dr Charles Foley is a mammalwatcher and biologist who, together with his wife Lara, spent 30 years studying elephants in Tanzania. They now run the Tanzania Conservation Research Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.Jon Hall set up mammalwatching.com in 2005. Genetically Welsh, spiritually Australian, currently in New York City. He has looked for mammals in over 100 countries.

At its annual gala, the Wildlife Conservation Society recently honored Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, the CEO and Chair of the Global Environment Facility, or GEF. WCS Wild Audio's Nat Moss sat down with Carlos Manuel to discuss his long career of conservation leadership, the work of the GEF, and the extraordinary example set by Rodríguez's home country of Costa Rica for environmental stewardship, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity protection.

Jane Alexander is an actress, writer, and conservationist. She chaired the National Endowment for the Art from 1993-1997. A Tony Award winner and member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, Alexander has performed in more than a hundred plays. Her long film career includes four Academy Award nominations, for The Great White Hope, All The President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Testament. She has been honored with two Emmys, for Playing for Time and Warm Springs. Alexander was a Trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a board member of the American Bird Conservancy, the American Birding Association, and a Commissioner of New York State Parks. She sits on the board of the National Audubon Society, the Global Advisory Group of Bird Life International, and the Conservation Council of Panthera. In 2012 the Indianapolis Prize inaugurated the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award, with Alexander as its first recipient.· www.creativeprocess.info

Jane Alexander is an actress, writer, and conservationist. She chaired the National Endowment for the Art from 1993-1997. A Tony Award winner and member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, Alexander has performed in more than a hundred plays. Her long film career includes four Academy Award nominations, for The Great White Hope, All The President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Testament. She has been honored with two Emmys, for Playing for Time and Warm Springs. Alexander was a Trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a board member of the American Bird Conservancy, the American Birding Association, and a Commissioner of New York State Parks. She sits on the board of the National Audubon Society, the Global Advisory Group of Bird Life International, and the Conservation Council of Panthera. In 2012 the Indianapolis Prize inaugurated the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award, with Alexander as its first recipient.· www.creativeprocess.info

Jane Alexander is an actress, writer, and conservationist. She chaired the National Endowment for the Art from 1993-1997. A Tony Award winner and member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, Alexander has performed in more than a hundred plays. Her long film career includes four Academy Award nominations, for The Great White Hope, All The President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Testament. She has been honored with two Emmys, for Playing for Time and Warm Springs. Alexander was a Trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a board member of the American Bird Conservancy, the American Birding Association, and a Commissioner of New York State Parks. She sits on the board of the National Audubon Society, the Global Advisory Group of Bird Life International, and the Conservation Council of Panthera. In 2012 the Indianapolis Prize inaugurated the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award, with Alexander as its first recipient.· www.creativeprocess.info

Jane Alexander is an actress, writer, and conservationist. She chaired the National Endowment for the Art from 1993-1997. A Tony Award winner and member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, Alexander has performed in more than a hundred plays. Her long film career includes four Academy Award nominations, for The Great White Hope, All The President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Testament. She has been honored with two Emmys, for Playing for Time and Warm Springs. Alexander was a Trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a board member of the American Bird Conservancy, the American Birding Association, and a Commissioner of New York State Parks. She sits on the board of the National Audubon Society, the Global Advisory Group of Bird Life International, and the Conservation Council of Panthera. In 2012 the Indianapolis Prize inaugurated the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award, with Alexander as its first recipient.· www.creativeprocess.info

Jane Alexander is an actress, writer, and conservationist. She chaired the National Endowment for the Art from 1993-1997. A Tony Award winner and member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, Alexander has performed in more than a hundred plays. Her long film career includes four Academy Award nominations, for The Great White Hope, All The President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Testament. She has been honored with two Emmys, for Playing for Time and Warm Springs. Alexander was a Trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a board member of the American Bird Conservancy, the American Birding Association, and a Commissioner of New York State Parks. She sits on the board of the National Audubon Society, the Global Advisory Group of Bird Life International, and the Conservation Council of Panthera. In 2012 the Indianapolis Prize inaugurated the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award, with Alexander as its first recipient.· www.creativeprocess.info

Jane Alexander is an actress, writer, and conservationist. She chaired the National Endowment for the Art from 1993-1997. A Tony Award winner and member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, Alexander has performed in more than a hundred plays. Her long film career includes four Academy Award nominations, for The Great White Hope, All The President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Testament. She has been honored with two Emmys, for Playing for Time and Warm Springs. Alexander was a Trustee of the Wildlife Conservation Society, a board member of the American Bird Conservancy, the American Birding Association, and a Commissioner of New York State Parks. She sits on the board of the National Audubon Society, the Global Advisory Group of Bird Life International, and the Conservation Council of Panthera. In 2012 the Indianapolis Prize inaugurated the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award, with Alexander as its first recipient.· www.creativeprocess.info

Thanks for joining us for Season Two of WCS Wild Audio. We'll be back soon with new stories from the Wildlife Conservation Society's field sites, zoos and aquarium, and conservation partners. In the meantime, check out some of the highlights of our conversations with WCS staff from across the world working to protect wildlife and wild places.

Stop Flushing Your Health Data Down The Toilet You could be flushing important information about your health right down the toilet—quite literally. Pee and poop can tell you a lot about your health, so what if your waste…didn't go to waste? What if, instead, it could tell you more about your health? Like number one, it can catch a condition like diabetes early. Or number two, check out what's going on in your gut microbiome. That's the goal of the smart toilet—a device that gets all up in your business to tell you more about your health. Ira talks with the inventor of the PH Smart Toilet, Dr. Seung-min Park, instructor of urology at Stanford's School of Medicine in California, about how the toilet works, how it can be used to catch diseases early on, and the ethical implications of such a device.   50 Years Later, Reflecting On The Treaty That Controls Wildlife Trade 50 years ago this month, a collection of nations met in Washington and reached agreement on a way to regulate international trade in certain wildlife species—from orchids to gorillas. That agreement came to be known as CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The treaty has come to cover over 30,000 different plants and animals. Some, listed in Appendix 1 of the treaty, are under a complete ban on commercial use, while other species have their trade tightly regulated via a system of permits. Dr. Susan Lieberman, the vice president for international policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, has attended the last 13 meetings of the CITES signatories. She joins Ira to talk about the convention, and what it has meant for conservation over the last 50 years.   This Skin-like Robot Can Heal Itself Think of a robot, and the image that may come to mind is a big, hulking body building cars or working in factories. They battle each other in the movies. But a growing field called softbotics focuses on thin, flexible materials—closer to human skin than to a Transformer. There's been a breakthrough in this field out of Pittsburgh: softbotics that can not only conduct electricity, but can heal itself from damage. This replicates the healing abilities of organic materials, like skin, but can happen in seconds. Dr. Carmel Majidi, mechanical engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, joins Ira to break down possible futures for this material, including a new generation of prosthetics.   Naked Mole-Rats Are Eternally Fertile There may be no stranger—or more impressive—critter than the naked mole-rat. They may look unassuming, but they can defy aging, have an astonishingly high pain tolerance, and are resistant to cancer. And their list of superpowers doesn't stop there. Scientists recently discovered yet another way these rodents reject the mammalian status quo: by producing egg cells, and staying fertile, until the day they die. This makes them unlike humans, whose ovaries eventually stop producing eggs. So what can we learn about fertility from these strange critters? Ira talks with the lead researcher of this study, Dr. Miguel Brieño-Enriquez, assistant professor at the Magee-Womens Research Institute and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.   Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.    

The Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) was created by a coalition of conservation organizations to take historical data and create geospatial mapping tools that enable more efficient deployment of park rangers to prevent poaching. SMART had demonstrated significant improvements in patrol coverage, with some observed reductions in poaching. Then a new analytic tool, the Protection Assistant for Wildlife Security (PAWS), was created to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to try to predict where poachers would be likely to strike. Jonathan Palmer, Executive Director of Conservation Technology for the Wildlife Conservation Society, already had a good data analytics tool to help park rangers manage their patrols. Would adding an AI- and ML-based tool improve outcomes or introduce new problems?

Dr. Joel Berger is the Barbara Cox Anthony University Chair of Wildlife Conservation at Colorado State University. He is also a longtime Senior Scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the author of multiple books, including most recently Extreme Conservation: Life at the Edges of the World. Joel is dedicated to saving animals that are off the radar of most people such as the Takin in Bhutan or the Huemul in Patagonia. These animals live in faraway places, and there are relatively few people advocating for their preservation. When he's not working, Joel enjoys hiking, watching animals, traveling to remote places, and drinking good coffee. He is also a fan of bodysurfing, but he doesn't get to do this often living in Colorado. Joel earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from California State University, Northridge, and his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Colorado Boulder. He was awarded a Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research at the National Zoo's Conservation & Research Center, and he was subsequently awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship which supported his research for four years. Before joining CSU, he held the position of John J. Craighead Chair of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Montana. Joel has received numerous awards and honors over the course of his career, including the Aldo Leopold Conservation Award for Lifetime Achievement from the American Society of Mammalogists, the Life-time Achievement Award from the Institute for Parks at Clemson University, the Society of Conservation Biology's LaRue III Life-time Achievement Award, and the Conservation Biology Award from the Denver Zoological Society. He is also an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, and he is a three-time finalist for the prestigious Indianapolis Prize in Conservation, one of the field's greatest honors. In this Interview, Joel shares more about his life and science.

“India has done more than any other country for recovering its tigers. Nobody can deny that. But still, we could do so much more than being satisfied with what we have done. There's so much complacency and crowing about these 3000 tigers we have, and I find it very sad.” Ullas Karanth   Dr. K. Ullas Karanth is emeritus scientist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore. Previously he led one of the longest-running (1986–2017) tiger conservation programs in the world for the Wildlife Conservation Society.   Along the way has conducted cutting-edge research, which gained crucial new knowledge for bringing tigers back. He was the first wildlife biologist in India to catch and radio collar tigers and the first to use camera traps to identify individuals.   He has also engaged deeply with researchers, wildlife managers, social leaders, and local communities that live next to tigers. His efforts have effectively stopped poachers, mitigated human-tiger conflicts and helped forest families to happily resettle away from tiger habitats.   Dr. Karanth's latest book, Among Tigers: Fighting to Bring Back Asia's Big Cats was released on November 1st.  It's the story of his 50-year journey to becoming one of the world's most important tiger biologists. His quest to save India's tigers was not an easy one and the book takes us through all of it: the adventures, the hardships, the politics and the successes. It's also an education in tiger biology. I read it in a day, because it is that good.   Please listen, share and then go read Among Tigers.   Links   Centre for Wildlife Studies   Among Tigers