216: EU Wolves and the Conservation Success Conundrum with Hanna Pettersson

Winter landscape showing a snow-covered alpine valley with traditional wooden chalets scattered across rolling hills. Dramatic snow-capped mountain peaks rise in the background beneath a cloudy sky with soft golden light. Bare trees dot the foreground of the pristine white valley.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oeCe6ki4rstiNJjSAveCH?si=6ZBMYXCvQByzGbOMvo-oNg Can we find a middle ground between those who see the EU's wolf downlisting as a catastrophe and those who celebrate it as good news? The debate around wolf conservation in the EU has become frustratingly polarised, with both sides 'crying wolf' about the consequences of changing protection status. It's time to step back … Continue reading 216: EU Wolves and the Conservation Success Conundrum with Hanna Pettersson →

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 →

The Myth of Historic Range in Wolf Conservation

Cover art featuring a stylised, sepia-toned map of a mountainous region with rivers and islands. In the foreground, a detailed illustration of a grey wolf stands prominently. The image is framed by ornate borders with decorative elements in the corners. A parchment-like scroll with indecipherable text is positioned in the upper right corner. The overall aesthetic evokes an old-world, fantasy cartographic style.

As you might know, the European Commission is moving forward with the proposal to lower the protection status of wolves in the EU. This reliably sparks fierce discussions online. Here, I want to focus on a specific element of these discussions: the historic range. The term is used in various contexts, but the underlying argument … Continue reading The Myth of Historic Range in Wolf Conservation →

168: Coexistence with Wolves in Estonia with Helen Arusoo

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SacXgnHbTR90b9C9AIjJQ On my podcast, we talk a lot about coexistence with large carnivores and the challenges it poses. Some of those challenges might seem insurmountable to some. To shed some light on overcoming these hurdles, I contacted Helen Arusoo, an Estonian nature journalist and the leader of the National Animal Working Group. In this conversation, … Continue reading 168: Coexistence with Wolves in Estonia with Helen Arusoo →