Forces for Nature

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More often than not, when you hear about the state of the natural world, you hear allllll the bad things. Yes, they are happening and, yes, they suck. But what you might not realize is that there are also soooo many good things happening. People are coming together to make the changes that we wish to see. Emma Illick Frank is a journalist and she joins us today to be the bearer of some great news. Although, our tangent about natural flavoring may make you cringe. ;)

*Correction: Emma mentioned that condors can get lead poisoning from eating carcasses killed by lead-laced bullets. It turns out, they have to actually ingest the bullets––not just the meat surrounding them.

Highlights

• Beavers are back in the UK after being locally extinct.
• Population boom for monarch butterflies.
• Multistakeholder collaborations, including with the Yurok Tribe, are helping to bring back the California Condor.

What YOU Can Do to Help

• For Beavers:
  • Support their reintroduction to your local streams (if they are native).
  • Don't buy their fur.
• For Monarch Butterflies:
  • Plant Milkweed flowers.
  • Avoid using pesticides on your property. There are alternative methods available. But, if you must, use the minimum that is needed and only in those very specific areas.
• For Condors:
  • Same as above regarding pesticides.
  • Don't use lead bullets if you hunt.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

The field of wildlife conservation has some of the most passionate and determined people in the world. To build a career protecting animals requires professionals in this field to have a diverse and complex toolbox of skills and knowledge.  However, as happens in many other careers, academic training is only the beginning of the learning journey and often does not fully cover the wide range of challenges and opportunities that individuals will face in the real world. Recognizing this gap, Nina Fascione (Exec. Director, International Rhino Foundation) and Jeffrey Flocken (President, Humane Society International), created the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program in 2005 to afford early-career wildlife conservationists an opportunity to become better-rounded professionals. Through EWCL, participants in the program are equipped with a gamut of skills, techniques, and approaches to wildlife conservation, and are connected to a large network of peers around the world. We talk about the program, its evolution, and future,  diving into some very amusing stories of how EWCL came to be and continues to change people's lives straight from the start.

Highlights

• The borderline nutty dedication to getting EWCL off the ground. ;)
• What kinds of impacts has EWCL had throughout the world?
• How can someone become a part of this fantastic network?

 What YOU Can Do
If you're an early career conservationist, apply to join the next EWCL class! Tell them Forces for Nature sent you!
Applications are due October 31st, 2021.

 Resources 

• Application  
• Website 
• Instagram
• Facebook 

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it here!

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Hey there! We're wrapping up this season with an update on what Crystal's been up to and a call to action.

What would you like to see from Forces for Nature? What topics, people, tips, etc? Find me on social media or write to me at [email protected]. I can't wait to hear from you!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

What action for the world are you going to take today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Despite its protected status, the marine waters surrounding the Caribbean island of Bonaire are not immune to the global effects of climate change, warming waters, and ocean acidification. These dangers, among others, are greatly impacting coral reefs all over the world. Francesca Virdis of Reef Renewal Bonaire is working to protect and restore these ecosystems by propagating new coral growth and transplanting these animals (did you know they are animals!?) back into degraded landscapes. This work is important for us all because coral reefs not only provide important tourism income for communities but also are nurseries to many commercial fish species, protect coastlines, and provide biomedical compounds.

What YOU can do to help coral reefs:

• Only use reef-safe sunscreen when you go into the ocean (see a link in the resources section of the show notes).
• Don’t stand or anchor on coral reefs (only on clear sand patches).
• Don't buy coral souvenirs or jewelry.
• Be a volunteer for Reef Renewal Bonaire   
• Spread awareness of this issue.
• Vote for those with a pro-environmental agenda.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review! 

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

If you live in a country with a highly developed garbage collection system, such as the US, you might not be fully aware of the impact that trash and litter have. However, even the US is in the top 20 of all countries generating the greatest amount of ocean-bound trash. These items end up choking the waters we swim in, ingested by the fish we eat, and degrading ecosystems across the world. Sharona Shnayder is the co-founder of Tuesdays for Trash. What started as her way to get outside during the pandemic and do something good by picking up litter, has become a global movement bringing together people from all over with the desire to clean up their neighborhoods and, in turn, the world.

If you want to learn how YOU can help, be sure to check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it here!

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Did you know that most of the food crops we eat are reliant on pollinators to reproduce? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, even the food fed to cattle, sheep, and pigs, need pollinators such as bees. Unfortunately, there have been staggering declines in bee population numbers over the past couple of decades that have the potential for disastrous consequences. Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey saw an opportunity in this crisis to make a two-fold impact. They created Detroit Hives which not only works to protect these vital animals but also to revitalize the city they call home. 

What can YOU do to help bees?

• Plant a bee-friendly garden. Your local plant nursery could help inform you as to what are the best native flowers to have. Even a flower box outside of your apartment window is effective.
• Provide a water source (a shallow dish with small rocks above the waterline)
• Use little to no chemicals on your lawn and garden.
• If you have a swarm at your home, call a local beekeeper to safely take care of it instead of an exterminator.
• For more ideas, check out this episode's show notes on the website!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review! 

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Sharks have a bad rep. But Tadzio Bervoets is here to tell us why our fear should be replaced with respect and intrigue instead. These animals are keystone species that, if removed, can cause a cascading negative effect on the entire ocean ecosystem and human livelihoods- and it's already been witnessed in some places. We talk about how an obsession, not a fear, has been their main demise (an obsession for their fins), the unexpected way scientists get their hands on sharks, and how a trip to New York City can get you more bites than one to the beach.

Tadzio is the Director of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. He recently created the Caribbean Shark Coalition which aims to foster collaboration among various stakeholders in the greater Caribbean to increase the region's capacity for protecting sharks and rays.

What can YOU do to help sharks?

• When doing shark diving tourism, be sure you are going with a reputable and responsible tour operator.
  • Check if they are third-party certified.
  • Ask what their safety protocols are.
  • Be sure they don't let you swim too closely (there have been documented negative impacts on whale sharks because of improper diver interactions).
  • Make sure operators use very little food to lure in the animals so they don't become dependent on humans to feed them.
  • Don't be tempted by the lowest prices. If the standard cost is X, anything much lower is a red flag.
• To avoid sharks being caught as bycatch, support responsible fishing practices. You can use the Monterey Bay Aquarium's portable guide here.
• Don't buy any shark products, from jaws to leather to soup. If you would like a shark's tooth, buy a fossilized shark's tooth so as not to support the killing of these animals for their parts.
• Check to see if your fish oil supplement contains shark liver.
• Shark meat contains mercury. For your health, avoid eating it.
• Support policies for shark conservation and sound ocean governance.
• Donate to shark research and education efforts.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review! 

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

The connection of how consumerism impacts the environment may not always be so clear. However, when you take a moment to think about how and what products are made of, and what their life cycle may be, a very discouraging picture can start to emerge. And, to find what is and isn't "good" can be quite overwhelming when we're juggling all the other things. Jaclyn Tracy is here to help. She created the lifestyle brand, Sistain, to connect conscious consumers with sustainable solutions. She does this through careful product curation, in-depth research, and knowledge-sharing. She's working to change the perception of what sustainability looks like and how it can fit within our lives.

How YOU can be a more conscious consumer:

• Start with simple sustainable swaps such as a reusable bottle or a dish brush (instead of a sponge).
• Utilize Sistain's website for Sistain-Approved Brands.
• When shopping for clothes, try to choose natural materials (aka not polyester, it's plastic).
• Reach out to Sistain with your sustainability questions. They are happy to help!
• For beauty products, assess the packaging (is it recyclable?), ingredients (natural?), is it cruelty-free.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review! 

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

 *This episode originally aired in May 2021. You can find an update from Julio at 24:44.

Today's guest is Julio Prieto. He's an Ecuadorian lawyer working with the Union of People Affected by Texaco, the organization otherwise known as UDAPT. He has been a key player in one of the most well-known battles for environmental justice- the case of Ecuador vs. Chevron-Texaco. After 20 years of litigation, Julio's team won the case that found Chevron to be guilty of egregious pollution and irresponsibility in the Ecuadorian rainforest. However, 10 years later, he is still fighting for the settlement that would benefit the tens of thousands impacted. We talk about his lessons learned, his most recent victory, and why, despite the impossible odds, he will never give up.

If you want to learn how YOU can help, be sure to check out this episode's show notes at www.forcesfornature.com!

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

 Have you ever watched a documentary that made you want to do something about what you were seeing? But then, after the credits, life takes back over and that inspiration quickly fades. It happens to all of us. But today's guest, Andrea Walji, is going to introduce us to a new streaming platform that lets you take action as you're watching the action. Waterbear is a free, interactive streaming platform dedicated to the future of the planet. We talk about the edu-tainment they offer, the impact they are already having, and how you can easily become a member. 

Check out this episode's show notes for resources on how YOU can take action!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review! 

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life

If you'd like to sponsor next season (or even just an episode) reach out to me and let's chat! My email is [email protected].

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?