Conservation and Science

Many people claim they are conservationists. But are they really? Inspired by your comments and some discussions that I had in the past, I decided to talk about this subject.

This episode was recorded outdoors, on the beautiful Irish coast of county Kerry. So, don’t be surprised to hear chough calling in the background or some occasional gusts of wind.

It is another in the series of solo episodes that I’m going to publish this year. In those I present the views that I have developed after many years of making this podcast which include not only conversations with experts but also attendance at conferences and reading countless books on these subjects. You can treat those as bonus episodes. The episodes where I interview scientists, conservationists and people with a love for nature and the outdoors are still coming on a fortnightly schedule.

If you’re interested in hearing more from me, have a suggestion for future episodes or want to leave feedback, please contact me through the contact form. If you’re an event organiser and would like me to speak at your event, go and check out the following link.

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I have been waiting for Tom Opre’s new film “The Last Keeper” since I learned in July 2022 that he and his team are working on it. Well, the wait was over for me at the beginning of February 2024, as I was the only person in Ireland to screen the film. The wait will soon be over for you as well since the film premieres in mid-April in Edinburgh. While you are still waiting, you can listen to my conversation with Tom about the film and wider aspects of Tom’s mission of talking about conservation and indigenous communities.

The Last Keeper is a documentary film that takes on the difficult subject of conflict surrounding land use in Scotland. It does a great job of presenting the views from all sides of the struggle. From estate owners, keepers and members of local communities to environmental NGOs, politicians and proponents of rewilding. On top of that, the conversations presented are not just dry statements of opinion. Tom is not shying away from asking difficult questions and pushing his interviewees outside their comfort zone. All that is complemented by brilliant cinematography showcasing stunning views of Scottish landscapes.

As this episode drops before the premiere of the film, we are careful to not spill the beans too much during our conversation. Instead, Tom gives you an insight into what drives him to do all his work and how it connects to the topic of his latest film. I fully expect a full range of opinions about the film and the views it presents. It will likely justify a follow-up episode with reactions to the film from those who are facing the issues presented or are just interested in them. For now, enjoy our conversation and don’t forget to subscribe to The Last Keeper newsletter to see the film’s trailer and stay updated about the film’s screening dates and the latest news about it.

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This episode is slightly different than usual when it comes to its subject. However, working with technology by day and creating digital content by night, I spend substantial time thinking about and grappling with this subject. So when I learned that a long-term supporter and a friend of the podcast, Emanuel Rose, wrote a book about it, I decided to have him on for a chat.

The subject in question is our unhealthy addiction to our phones (mostly) and other devices. Which in the not-so-long term results in a shortened attention span, inability to focus and all-around decrease in happiness and increase in anxiety. And that is not a good state of mind.

In his book, “The 7 Principles of the Magic Rock: How Solitude in Nature Anchors Your Mental Health” Emanuel Rose suggests that unplugging and spending more time in nature is a perfect antidote to the aforementioned predicaments. In his succinct book, the author provides plenty of practical advice. It is rounded out with plentiful references to articles and peer-reviewed papers.

Get "The 7 Principles of the Magic Rock": https://amzn.to/49ESu59

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It has been a considerable time since the last time we spoke about rewilding on the podcast. I feel that the discussion around the practice as well as understanding of the term has moved on in the last three to four years. So, I decided to get an update on the state of rewilding. To do so, I invited the Director of the Wildland Research Institute at the School of Geography, University of Leeds, Dr Steve Carver who is also a Professor of Rewilding and Wilderness Science. Nothing like getting an update about rewilding from the professor of rewilding!

I was curious whether the meaning and understanding of the term rewilding is any more clear than it used to be. We also revisited some of the classic discussion points around rewilding like: “You want to take us back in time” or “It’s an anti-rural movement” to see if the discourse has developed in any way. And if you’re expecting blindly pro-rewilding answers you might be in for a surprise!

Further reading:

• Guiding principles for rewilding

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Currently, a lot is going on in the European Union concerning regulations that can impact nature and nature restoration. To get a better understanding of the current state of nature in the European Union and the future of nature conservation and restoration I talk with Frank Vassen. Frank works in the Nature Unit in the General Directorate for the Environment at the European Commission. That might sound a little dry but worry not. The conversation was joyful and funny at times. Frank has a good sense of humour and deep understanding of nature conservation and you can see his passion for it.

After listening to this episode you will have a comprehensive view of the current state of affairs when it comes to nature conservation in the European context. I asked Frank to explain terms like Natura 2000, 30 by 30, OECMs, etc. These are the terms that we often hear but it’s not always clear what they are and what level of nature protection they offer. We also discuss the challenges faced by nature conservation and restoration initiatives and the possible solutions. We finish with the outlook for the future of nature conservation and restoration in the EU.

Last but not least, we discuss what citizens and voters in the European Union can do to help nature and nature conservation efforts. Spoiler alert: we’re not going to tell you who to vote for and it turns out there are more ways to get involved than only through casting votes. That is not to say, of course, that your democratic privileges (duties?) are not important.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organisation. The participants are expressing their personal opinions and perspectives.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organisation. The participants are expressing their personal opinions and perspectives.

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 to break down my take on species reintroductions, the good, the bad and the ugly - as the saying goes. 

It is another in the series of solo episodes that I’m going to publish this year. In those I present the views that I have developed after many years of making this podcast which include not only conversations with experts but also attendance at conferences and reading countless books on these subjects. You can treat those as bonus episodes. The episodes where I interview scientists, conservationists and people with a love for nature and the outdoors are still coming on a fortnightly schedule.

If you’re interested in hearing more from me, have a suggestion for future episodes or want to leave feedback, please contact me through the contact form. If you’re an event organiser and would like me to speak at your event, go and check out the following link.

Further reading:

• Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom
• Restoring the Wild: True Stories of Rewilding Britain’s Skies, Woods and Waterways
• Anthropogenic food subsidies hinder the ecological role of wolves: Insights for conservation of apex predators in human-modified landscapes - ScienceDirect
• Golden jackal expansion in northernmost Europe: records in Finland | Mammalian Biology

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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, we talk about how Estonia overcame these hurdles and created something that I would consider the gold standard of coexistence with large carnivores.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of our time was spent discussing wolves as they seem to be the most difficult carnivore species to coexist with, at least in the northern hemisphere. However, we did discuss other large carnivores like bears too. Our conversation focused mostly on social and cultural factors. We also touched on the European Commission's proposal to lower the protection status of wolves, something we’ve discussed extensively in one of the previous episodes.

It was a wonderful conversation and I enjoyed speaking with Helen. Her profound understanding of the challenges of coexistence is impressive. She presented a deeply thought-out perspective and I can only wish that more people who care about wolves could learn from her experience and the Estonian model of coexistence with large carnivores.

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When we talk about dogs and conservation, it is usually in the context of wildlife disturbances caused by pet dogs and their inconsiderate owners. However, a specially trained dog can be an invaluable asset in conservation projects that require searches or detection. The subjects can vary from searching and finding carcasses to detecting nests and chicks of birds nesting in burrows. That includes a dog indicating what species was found!

To explore the use of dogs in research and conservation projects I talk with Dr Caroline Finlay, the founder of Conservation Detection Dogs Northern Ireland. By listening to this episode, you will learn how it is possible to train a dog for this work. What a typical day of searching looks like. Are there any downsides to using dogs in sensitive habitats? And many more interesting facts.

You will also learn about some specific projects and common activities like searching for carcasses around wind turbines or research projects on Eurasian Curlew or Manx Shearwater. Finally, if you’re a researcher, you will learn when and how to engage with the CDDNI and see if they can be of help to your project.

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The new year has just started and I’m quick to treat you to yet another episode of the Conservation and Science podcast. Since it is this early in the year, it’s a good opportunity to give you an update about my plans for 2024 and what you can expect from the podcast. Listen to find out about changes to the episode release schedule, my writing and speaking efforts, and my future social media presence.

In the second part of this episode, I take a look back at the 2023 releases and share with you my reflections on them. It was an interesting exercise for me and by listening to it, you might find episodes you want to revisit or listen to for the first time if you missed them. And in case, you’ve joined us recently, it’s a useful review of the last year’s back catalogue.

Finally, I encourage you to subscribe to my newsletter. I will be putting more focus on it in the coming year, and the scope of its content will be expanding. My goal is to make it a primary method of communicating with you, my audience, and gradually move away from social media.

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A Flicker in the Water is a book about fishing I wish someone had written a long time ago. I gotta admit that due to its small size, I initially underestimated it. However, as I started reading it, I was immediately drawn to the series of fishing stories and captivated by original, real-life photos. In fact, reading this book was so pleasurable that I ended up reading it twice over, back to back. I’m not kidding you!

During my conversation with the author and expert angler, Bob Gonzalez, we delved into the specifics of fishing in tropical waters. For example, you will learn how to use a second rod to keep fighting a big fish when it’s about to spool you! This episode and book are a delight for all anglers. Especially,  since most of us are now in the depths of winter, so hearing fishing stories from the tropics will surely warm you up!

Get "A Flicker in the Water": https://amzn.to/3RNV0jm

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