204: The Elephant Translocation Disaster with Jens Ulrik Høgh

A group photo of approximately 20 Black people from a rural African community, including adults and children, standing and sitting together in a lush agricultural field. The group appears to be a farming community, with people of various ages wearing casual clothing in bright colours including orange, blue, yellow, and traditional patterned fabrics. In the foreground and surrounding the group are green crops including what appears to be maize plants and other vegetables. The setting suggests a rural farming area with rich, fertile soil. On the right side of the group stands a white journalist with glasses wearing olive-green clothing. The sky overhead is partly cloudy, and there are trees visible in the background. The image captures what appears to be a community gathering or visit to showcase local agricultural work.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7M2rtUYPfW5shNdwOgzjTb How does a wealthy animal welfare organisation, funded by well-meaning donors from Europe and North America, end up relocating hundreds of elephants to an area where some of the world's poorest people live? What happens when two people are killed within 24 hours of the first four elephants arriving, yet the organisation presses on … Continue reading 204: The Elephant Translocation Disaster with Jens Ulrik Høgh →

Podcasthon: IWDG and IWT

https://open.spotify.com/episode/429ZzIcs28IofOAqOeQSfl Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and Irish Wildlife Trust.This episode is part of the global Podcasthon initiative, in which podcasters worldwide dedicate one episode to their chosen charity. To maximise impact, all episodes are published in a single week. I’m showcasing two of the most influential Irish environmental charities: the Irish Whale and Dolphin … Continue reading Podcasthon: IWDG and IWT →

196: Offshore Wind and Marine Mammals with Stephen Comerford

The image shows an offshore wind farm with multiple white wind turbines arranged in a line across the horizon. The turbines are installed in the sea, with their bases partially submerged in the grey-blue water. The sky above is overcast with a light grey cloud cover, creating a moody atmosphere. Each turbine has three blades and appears to be of significant size, standing tall above the water's surface. The turbines are evenly spaced and extend across the entire width of the frame, demonstrating the scale of the offshore wind energy installation. Image by Julia Schwab from Pixabay

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4w1wJAISQyArnmmUCCOMOX Are offshore wind farms detrimental to marine mammals? What happens when we industrialise our seas with massive turbines? Can we balance the urgent need for renewable energy with protecting marine life? These questions take centre stage in our conversation with marine ecologist Dr Stephen Comerford, who is the ORE Marine Biodiversity Officer at the … Continue reading 196: Offshore Wind and Marine Mammals with Stephen Comerford →

Let’s Talk About Europe’s Wolf Protection Laws

A dramatic digital artwork depicting five snarling wolves with bared teeth, shown in close-up against a dark, moody background. The wolves have detailed fur rendered in golden-brown and white tones. They appear to be confronting each other aggressively, with their paws extended and bodies positioned on what appears to be gnarled tree branches. The lighting creates a theatrical, Renaissance-style atmosphere with golden highlights contrasting against shadowy areas.

As you may have heard, the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention (an international legal instrument for nature conservation) decided to lower the protection status of wolves. This opens the way to lower their protection status across the EU through the Habitats Directive. The move had been on the cards for over a year, and … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Europe’s Wolf Protection Laws →

192: EU Green Policy – The Science-Politics Divide with Faustine Bas-Defossez

An abstract digital network or circuit design overlaid on a vibrant green background. The design features light green geometric shapes - primarily circles and rectangles - interconnected by straight lines and paths, creating a pattern reminiscent of a circuit board or network diagram. The background has a soft, organic bokeh effect with varying shades of green and subtle blue tints, creating a contrast between the natural, blurred background and the precise, technical overlay. This combination suggests a theme of technology harmonising with nature, or digital systems existing within an organic environment. The overall composition has a modern, technological aesthetic while maintaining a natural, organic feel through its colour palette and background texture.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/504BGYFynHK6IWxMuEljWL How much influence do personal experiences of high-ranking officials have on EU environmental policies? What happens when science-based conservation collides with political interests? Can farmers and environmentalists find common ground in nature restoration? In this episode, I talk to Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director for Nature, Health and Environment at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), who … Continue reading 192: EU Green Policy – The Science-Politics Divide with Faustine Bas-Defossez →

190: The Geopolitics of Whale Conservation with Peter Corkeron

Commercial whaling vessel docked at a harbor, showing large red circular harpoon reels and a yellow A-frame structure mounted on deck. The ship flies a Greenlandic flag and has industrial whaling equipment visible. The harbor scene includes a modern city skyline with a distinctive building visible in the background across calm waters on a partly cloudy day. Image by Bernd Hildebrandt from Pixabay.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5i1mWPIBkTzOErZo25fszA Is the resumption of commercial whaling inevitable? What hidden geopolitical forces are shaping international whale conservation efforts? Let's dive (pun not intended) into the complex world of whale conservation with marine scientist Dr Peter Corkeron. In our conversation, Peter uncovers the surprising connections between military bases, national security, and the fate of the world's … Continue reading 190: The Geopolitics of Whale Conservation with Peter Corkeron →

175: SOTKA Wetlands with Veli-Matti Pekkarinen and Heikki Helle

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5HmxkYJTJHmC3Jj5bjWBrO Finnish SOTKA is a large-scale habitat restoration project and a part of a larger Helmi Habitats Programme aimed at restoring Finland’s biodiversity. It is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment. SOTKA’s objective is large-scale habitat restoration through wetlands rehabilitation, restoration of mires and catchments, non-native (i.e. … Continue reading 175: SOTKA Wetlands with Veli-Matti Pekkarinen and Heikki Helle →

Hunters for Conservation, Goals and Ambitions

“Hunters are conservationists” or “hunting is conservation” are phrases that we hear so often that they might sound clichéd. I have discussed whether such generalisations are true or not countless times on my podcast. Regardless of your opinion, it is undeniable that hunters and hunting organisations across the world can and do contribute to great … Continue reading Hunters for Conservation, Goals and Ambitions →

160: Safari Club International with Ben Cassidy

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1fvtOmbU90f3oKNnIeiFOj Safari Club International (SCI) is one of the world’s most prominent hunting organisations. They pride themselves on being the leader in defending the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation across the world. Their tagline, “First for Hunters” says it all, really. Today, we continue the exploration of the public perception of hunting, the … Continue reading 160: Safari Club International with Ben Cassidy →

156: Save Blackswarth Road Wood with Phil Sturgeon

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eywZW6B9aF1rBFI7hA9x1?si=6fyVdYvNSJ2yFtz8i3eVZg Some things are so tiny yet so central that they matter more than giant things elsewhere. This is a paraphrased message I got from Phil Sturgeon, an ex-techie and founder of Protect Earth charity, who dedicated his life to woodland creation and restoration. As it turns out, Phil is running a fundraiser to buy … Continue reading 156: Save Blackswarth Road Wood with Phil Sturgeon →