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 →

149: Changes to Deer Hunting and Firearms Licensing in Ireland with Liam M. Nolan

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oZ9PTJywDZ5CiEIlejzGr?si=3376ceaa8f2f407d There is a lot going on for Irish deer hunters at the moment. First, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched a Public Consultation on the Management of Deer in Ireland. There are a lot of questions and worries about the potential outcomes of this consultation. The online survey published as a … Continue reading 149: Changes to Deer Hunting and Firearms Licensing in Ireland with Liam M. Nolan →

The NARGC Seminar on The Open Seasons Order and Sustainable Hunting

When I received the invitation to attend the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) seminar on the Open Seasons Order and Sustainable Hunting, I accepted without hesitation. The seminar featured an outstanding lineup of guests and speakers from Ireland and mainland Europe. The timing of the seminar was not coincidental. Ireland is obligated to … Continue reading The NARGC Seminar on The Open Seasons Order and Sustainable Hunting →

140: Salmon Aquaculture and Coastal Communities with John Aitchison

https://open.spotify.com/episode/68wGiZaj9g8HjK1lw4TFBP?si=04d6ecd6e3b249c0 I knew that salmon farming was bad but I didn’t realise quite how bad it really is. Salmon aquaculture creates massive ecological and welfare issues for the fish. Both farmed fish as well as wild fish populations are negatively affected by open-net aquaculture. And that is even before I mention the impacts the industry … Continue reading 140: Salmon Aquaculture and Coastal Communities with John Aitchison →

136: The Politics of Nature Restoration with Ariel Brunner

https://open.spotify.com/episode/77jBeEfcKE0aXaOMobx2dH?si=f05583dd51364e35 Successful nature restoration, species conservation and even access to hunting grounds depends on land management policies. They are the foundation of everything we do in nature and to nature. Unfortunately, this means politics. No matter how much time conservationists spend in the field, planting trees, rewetting bogs or rewiggling rivers and streams, without solid … Continue reading 136: The Politics of Nature Restoration with Ariel Brunner →

135: Wilder Bison with Paul Whitfield

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oQWO015OITyPVjoumq2tT?si=8e41a8e8a22748af The Wilder Bleen project is a cooperation between Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust. It received an immense amount of coverage in the press worldwide, not only in nature magazines like National Geographic and Mongabay but also in the mainstream media. The goal of the project is to promote natural habitat recovery by restoring … Continue reading 135: Wilder Bison with Paul Whitfield →

Episode 122: Eco Defense Group with Nathan Edmondson

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ipj6K1xlZdWiMJUw3cYsn?si=af88fad458724982 Once again I had the pleasure to talk with Nathan Edmondson, co-founder and President of Eco Defense Group, an organization that supports frontline wildlife rangers who face danger from direct conflict with poachers. In the episode, we get an update from Nathan about the latest situation in Africa and the state of affairs in … Continue reading Episode 122: Eco Defense Group with Nathan Edmondson →