214: Bringing Back the Wild with Mike Arnold – A Hunter’s View of Global Conservation

A hunter in camouflage clothing and glasses kneels beside a harvested nyala antelope in a grassy field. The hunter holds a rifle and poses with the animal, which displays distinctive white vertical stripes on its dark brown coat and long spiral horns. Dense vegetation is visible in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pc7FMa9DZhL5wKzFlcaQt?si=4UTk4PlfTQWE8wqSRAmq8A Can hunting truly support conservation? Does fortress conservation offer a sustainable solution for protecting wildlife in the long term? And how do we balance the needs of impoverished communities with the preservation of fragile ecosystems? Our guest today is Mike Arnold, a Distinguished Research Professor and Head of the Department of Genetics at the … Continue reading 214: Bringing Back the Wild with Mike Arnold – A Hunter’s View of Global Conservation →

211: When Reintroductions Cause De-wilding with Alex Lees

A large pelican with distinctive dishevelled, cream-coloured plumage rests on weathered wooden logs. The bird displays its characteristic enormous pale yellow bill and bright orange eyes, with wispy feathers creating an almost comical 'bad hair day' appearance atop its head. The pelican's posture is relaxed as it sits amongst the timber, with its substantial body and wings folded naturally. The wooden logs show signs of age and weathering, creating interesting textures and lines that frame the bird. The background is softly blurred in dark tones, making the pale pelican stand out prominently in the composition.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mrrImy0I4FvZqKCVVb5zP Can species reintroductions harm biodiversity rather than help it? Why might bringing back wolves or lynx create more problems than solutions? Are we using reintroductions as a distraction from the real drivers of our nature crisis? In conversation with Alex Lees, Reader at Manchester Metropolitan University, we explore these questions and cut through popular … Continue reading 211: When Reintroductions Cause De-wilding with Alex Lees →

205: The Rewildlife with Jack Morley

This image shows a lush, verdant riverside scene with dense vegetation and mature trees. In the foreground, a small stream or river flows over rocks and stones, creating a natural waterway. The banks are thick with green foliage, including what appears to be large-leafed plants and various shrubs. Towering above are established trees with full canopies, creating a layered woodland environment. The scene has the characteristic emerald green appearance of Irish countryside, with the rich, saturated colours that come from frequent rainfall and mild temperatures. The lighting suggests either early morning or late afternoon, with soft natural light filtering through the tree canopy. The overall composition captures the wild, untamed beauty of Ireland's natural landscapes, where waterways wind through dense woodland and native vegetation flourishes.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Ct1xX7JA00qrYzHcQ0Dln Why are people so opposed to the term "rewilding" when it can inspire action for nature restoration? How can we communicate conservation issues without alienating the very people we need to reach? And what happens when a creative professional decides to transform four fields in Wicklow into a biodiversity haven while documenting every step … Continue reading 205: The Rewildlife with Jack Morley →

201: Rewild Your Land with Pádraic Fogarty

The image shows a misty rural landscape with a prominent oak tree in the foreground. The scene is bathed in fog, creating a dreamlike atmosphere as the mist hangs over the meadow. In the foreground, there's tall golden grass interspersed with some wildflowers or weeds. Behind this is a wire fence with wooden posts marking a boundary. The oak tree stands majestically in the middle ground, with a full, spreading canopy of green leaves. Around it are other smaller trees and shrubs, partially obscured by the fog. The background shows more trees fading into the dense fog, giving the whole scene a layered, atmospheric quality. The lighting suggests early morning, with the fog likely to burn off as the day progresses. The overall impression is one of peaceful countryside, possibly in Britain or Ireland, with the characteristic hedgerows and field boundaries visible through the mist.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/01cXWsODPTb1IyFJDITvJe What does it mean to 'rewild' a landscape in Ireland, one of Europe's most nature-poor countries? Can rewilding coexist with traditional farming practices, or must we choose between them? How do we balance the need for biodiversity recovery with the cultural and economic realities of rural communities? These questions are at the heart of … Continue reading 201: Rewild Your Land with Pádraic Fogarty →

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 →

169: Species Reintroductions

https://open.spotify.com/episode/64pJp4xAbRfKSyrKYbkp2s Species reintroductions, often in the context of rewilding, is a topic that we frequently discuss on this podcast. It is also fiercely debated on social media. I have been asked more than once about my views and opinions on this topic. Do I support species reintroductions? Well, it depends. In this episode, I’m going … Continue reading 169: Species Reintroductions →