The Nature Dilemma

Humanity is in trouble. Does Costa Rica have the answers?

With over 99% of their electricity already produced from renewables and more than a quarter of their land protected, we look to Costa Rica's most powerful - and successful - climate leaders for answers. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, head of the Global Environment Facility (the largest environmental fund in the world) and Andrea Meza, Minister of Environment, walk us through the country's success story, how they got there, and what's up next for this Green (and Blue) Nation.

A conversation on how Costa Rica shaped the Green Future ... for everyone.

Crawl into the heart of an ancient rainforest tree, trek through a regenerative forest, and more. Inspired by the "Ocelot versus Coati" camera trap video that caught the world's eye, this From the Field episode of The Nature Dilemma takes listeners into the rainforest with tropical ecologist and conservationist Dr. Andy Whitworth. Full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-EImf1bj7Y

In the face of climate change, how do you save the planet? To start, you protect Earth's last wild places. Then, you bring back the keystone species that have gone missing. That is the Tompkins Conservation approach.

Listen to "Rewilding Planet Earth" for next steps, advice, and life stories from Kris Tompkins herself, a rewilding icon, 16-year CEO of Patagonia, and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation.

The Nature Dilemma is powered by Osa Conservation. Hosted by Lucy Kleiner. Production by Dr. Andrew Whitworth and Lucy Kleiner. Artwork by Ysemay Dercon and Jack Yuen. For more, @osaconservation.

Humans are built by stories. Right now as humanity faces the nature dilemma brought on by climate change, the stories we share matter. But, so do the people who tell them.

The Nature Dilemma goes behind-the-scenes of the world’s most powerful storytelling machine, National Geographic, to learn more about why we, as an audience, should care about who is telling the story.

Featuring Kirsten Elstner, Director of National Geographic Photo Camp, and Ronan Donovan. The Nature Dilemma is powered by Osa Conservation. Hosted by Lucy Kleiner. Production by Dr. Andrew Whitworth and Lucy Kleiner. Artwork by Ysemay Dercon and Jack Yuen. For more, @osaconservation.

This month, National Geographic Magazine featured Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, calling it a "a biodiverse wonder and a model for conservation." In this episode, The Nature Dilemma sits down with the man behind those images, National Geographic Photographer Charlie Hamilton James. From the puma picture the world couldn't believe to treetop photography and the burning Amazon, this man is among those most familiar with Earth's last wild places.

Read the February issue of National Geographic Magazine in print or online here: www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/tourism-loss-threatens-osa-peninsula-in-costa-rica-feature

The Nature Dilemma is powered by Osa Conservation and hosted by Lucy Kleiner. Production by Dr. Andrew Whitworth and Lucy Kleiner. Artwork by Ysemay Dercon and Jack Yuen. For more, @osaconservation.

What is a tapir, and what does it sound like? How many adults remain in the wild? What can YOU do right now to help protect them?

In this episode of The Nature Dilemma, world-renowned tapir expert Esteban Brenes-Mora, Director of Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation and Nai Conservation, brings these endangered species into the spotlight.

The Nature Dilemma is powered by Osa Conservation. Hosted by Lucy Kleiner. Production by Dr. Andrew Whitworth and Lucy Kleiner. Artwork by Ysemay Dercon and Jack Yuen. For more, @osaconservation.

As the world pushes toward the goal of protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030, Dr. Enric Sala’s work with National Geographic has never been more timely. The Nature Dilemma discusses the value of marine protection with the founder and director of National Geographic’s Pristine Seas Initiative, a movement focused on storytelling, scientific study, protection, and making people fall in love with the underwater world.

What would you ask the person responsible for protecting huge sections of the world's last wild places? The Nature Dilemma sits down with Dr. Adrian Forsyth to discuss the complexity, beauty, and danger of the forests humanity depends on. From dung beetles to giant anacondas, Dr. Forsyth walks listeners down the path that led him to become one of the most renowned tropical ecologists of our time. 

Reporting from Earth's richest and wildest tropical landscapes, The Nature Dilemma takes you to the front line of conservation and the climate change crisis. We ask some of the most accomplished conservationists of our time and those working tirelessly to preserve and restore nature: how can we move forward? How can we rebuild our own connection to nature, ensure that the wild remains wild, and understand why doing so is in our best interest.