What is happening to wetlands in Trump's America? Professor Royal C. Gardner tells us.
VIsit Koforidua, Apenkwa, Ghana, and meet Samuel Kudjodzi.
Plus wetland news (links below).
Apologies that every voice in this episode is male – I'll try not to let that happen again.
A Wetland Podcast is a personal project not reflecting any employer. More: https://www.patreon.com/Awetlandpodcast
Updates
Standing Committee of the Convention on Wetlands: https://www.ramsar.org/meeting/67th-meeting-standing-committee
Youth engagement paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70302 and https://relationalthinkingblog.com/2026/03/20/plain-language-summary-youth-networks-are-key-but-overlooked-actors-in-environmental-governance/
OECM Platform: https://www.oecm.info/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/harry-jonas_oecm-platform-ugcPost-7450489981338341377-VJkI?
Whitley Awards: https://whitleyaward.org/awards/
World Migratory Bird Day: https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/#2026
World Saltmarsh Day: https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/world-saltmarsh-day
People, Police, or Practice
Professor Royal C Gardner: https://www.stetson.edu/law/faculty/home/royal-gardner.php
List of MEAs the USA left in January 2026 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-international-organizations-conventions-and-treaties-that-are-contrary-to-the-interests-of-the-united-states/
More on his book: https://mavensnotebook.com/2026/05/15/author-interview-royal-gardner-waters-of-the-united-states-potus-scotus-wotus-and-the-politics-of-a-national-resource/
Water Margin
Meet Samuel Kudjodzi https://earth.fm/recording-expeditions/the-centre-for-soundscape-ecology-multimedia-training-program-ghana/
https://www.instagram.com/csem_official/ And hear more of the recordings: https://aporee.org/maps/?what=wetland&limitBounds=on&fromYear=2025&fromMonth=04&fromDay=30&toYear=2026&toMonth=04&toDay=30&fromHour=00&fromMin=00&toHour=00&toMin=00
Other stories you might have missed
Chennai reservoir plans spark protests, warnings:
https://www.dw.com/en/chennai-reservoir-plans-spark-protests-and-warnings/video-76914064
WaterNSW criticised for ‘appalling’ decision after hundreds of turtles left to die in wetlands: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/21/water-nsw-criticised-for-appalling-decision-after-hundreds-of-turtles-left-to-die-in-wetlands
Volunteers work to save eels trapped in mud of dried-up Pukepuke Lagoon: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/592456/volunteers-work-to-save-eels-trapped-in-mud-of-dried-up-pukepuke-lagoon
eNGOs being squeezed in Brussels: https://reporterre.net/C-est-une-chasse-aux-sorcieres-la-droite-europeenne-veut-reduire-au-silence-les-ONG
Drought drives elevated antibiotic resistance across soils: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-026-02274-x.epdf
Multiple development banks launch 'Water Forward' initiative: https://live.worldbank.org/en/event/2026/spring-meetings-water-forward
