Rewilding Earth Podcast: Episode 139 - Year-End Recap With 2024 Guest Updates
Release Date: December 30, 2024
Introduction and Overview
In the season finale of the Rewilding Earth Podcast, host Jack reflects on the podcast's seventh year and the significant strides made in 2024. He highlights memorable interviews, including conversations with prominent conservationists like Chris TopPkins, Paul Ehrlich, and Captain Paul Watson. This episode serves as a comprehensive year-end recap, featuring updates from past guests about their ongoing conservation efforts.
Notable Quote:
"Hearing a group of them like this is different. It's powerful. I can't wait for you to hear it."
— Jack (00:07)
Red Wolf Conservation with Eric Treffne
Update on Wildlife Crossings: Eric Treffne shares groundbreaking progress in red wolf conservation. The fundraising goal of $2 million for wildlife crossings in red wolf territories was successfully met, enabling the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) to apply for a $25 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration's Wildlife Crossings pilot program.
Notable Quotes:
"The $2 million fundraising goal has been met, which ensures the North Carolina DOT can apply for a grant through the Federal Highway Administration's Wildlife Crossings pilot program."
— Eric Treffne (02:13)
"This is great news for red wolves and for wildlife, but also for humans too."
— Eric Treffne (02:13)
Challenges Ahead: Despite these advancements, Treffne emphasizes that red wolves are not yet safe from extinction, urging continued support and advocacy.
Wildlife Connectivity with Aaron Seto
Legislative Progress: Aaron Seto provides an update on the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act, highlighting its introduction in both the House and Senate with bipartisan support. The bill received favorable hearings and is slated for reintroduction in the 2025 119th Congress.
Notable Quote:
"The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships act... is the first federal court or bill to be introduced in both the House and the Senate with both Republican and Democratic co-sponsors."
— Aaron Seto (04:48)
New Grants Awarded: Seto announces $125 million in new grants for wildlife crossings across 15 states and one tribe. Key projects include Oregon's first wildlife overpass connecting Cascade Siskiyou National Monument and multiple crossings in North Carolina to aid red wolf conservation.
Future Advocacy: With high demand exceeding $550 million in requests, Seto calls for making the pilot grant program permanent and increasing its funding.
Notable Quote:
"We need to be talking to Congress to tell them to make this program permanent and kick up the funding that they're providing to this program."
— Aaron Seto (04:48)
Jaguar Conservation with Turtle Southern
Expanding Advocacy: Turtle Southern, now with the Rewilding Institute, updates listeners on jaguar conservation efforts in the United States. She recounts her visits to prime jaguar habitats and collaborations with conservationists like George Schaller.
Notable Quote:
"Jaguars are adaptable. If there is prey available, they will do well."
— Turtle Southern (09:10)
Community Engagement: Southern highlights the formation of a jaguar coalition comprising diverse stakeholders advocating for jaguar recovery and coexistence in the desert Southwest.
Tribute to Liebe Lula: Tragically, Southern shares the passing of Liebe Lula, a female jaguar who inspired much of the conservation work in her northern range.
Notable Quote:
"Unlike with so many jaguars past and present, it wasn't tragic. I find even more beauty in that."
— Turtle Southern (13:57)
Artistic Activism with Lauren Strohacker
Border Wall Jaguar Project: Lauren Strohacker discusses her impactful art projects aimed at reinvigorating human connection to nature. Her “Unfragmentando” project involves projecting images of Sonoran Desert species onto the US-Mexico border wall to highlight the ecological and social harms of the barrier.
Notable Quote:
"Through this community-centric art, call attention to two things... the harm a wall inflicts on human and non-human communities."
— Lauren Strohacker (14:13)
Jaguar Rising Event: In May 2024, Strohacker collaborated with the Rewilding Institute and Madrian Archipelago Wildlife Center to project wildlife images onto the Nogales, Arizona border wall, creating a powerful visual statement against militarization.
Notable Quote:
"My border wall projections ended the evening and hopefully set the stage for more Borderland collaborations and events to come."
— Lauren Strohacker (14:13)
Sky Islands Connectivity with Emily Burns
Research Findings: Emily Burns reports on her team's publication in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, revealing an 86% decline in successful wildlife crossings at the US-Mexico border compared to regions without the bollard wall.
Notable Quote:
"There is an 86% decline in the number of successful crossings for animals trying to move back and forth between the US and Mexico when they encounter the bollard wall."
— Emily Burns (17:40)
Conservation Efforts: Burns underscores the importance of installing small wildlife passages, or "cat doors," to enhance corridor permeability and support species like mountain lions and coyotes.
Volunteer Call: She invites volunteers to participate in habitat restoration projects along the border in southeast Arizona and northern Mexico.
Borderlands and Mining Threats with Miles Trafigan
Environmental Crisis in Sonora: Miles Trafigan highlights a severe environmental threat stemming from mining activities in Sonora, Mexico. He describes witnessing truckloads of hazardous chemicals contributing to water scarcity and ecosystem destruction.
Notable Quote:
"Mining interest in Sonora... are going to be the destruction of basically the entire ecosystem."
— Miles Trafigan (20:30)
Urgent Call to Action: Trafigan urges Mexican citizens to oppose mining companies like Grupo Meiko to protect vital water and mineral resources.
Rewilding in the Pacific Northwest with Paula McKay
Wolf Protections: Paula McKay shares encouraging news that efforts to reduce protections for the recovering wolf population in the Washington Cascades have failed, maintaining their endangered status.
Fisher and Wolverine Monitoring: She discusses the Cascades Carnivore Monitoring Program, which employs advanced techniques to track rare carnivores, providing valuable data on the impacts of climate change and human activities.
Grizzly Bear Reintroduction: A significant highlight is the planned reintroduction of grizzly bears to the North Cascades in 2025. The initiative aims to relocate three to seven bears annually to establish a sustainable population, marking a pivotal moment in regional rewilding efforts.
Notable Quote:
"Grizzlies are the last missing piece in the rewilding puzzle here, and their return will have rewilding advocates, including me, dancing in the trails."
— Paula McKay (22:48)
National Parks Expansion with Michael Kellett
Campaign Progress: Michael Kellett updates listeners on the "Restore the North Woods" campaign to create 100 new national parks across the United States. Despite political challenges, particularly under the Trump administration, the initiative remains steadfast in seeking congressional support.
Legislative Strategy: Kellett emphasizes the necessity of congressional legislation for national park designation, distinguishing it from national monuments which are more susceptible to political shifts.
Future Plans: With a new website launches and a growing network of supporting groups, the campaign is gearing up for significant advancements in 2025, aligning with broader goals to protect 30% of the US by 2030.
Notable Quote:
"We're a membership organization so I hope people will join and help support our cause."
— Michael Kellett (25:35)
Conclusion and Call to Action
Host Jack wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to support the Rewilding Institute through donations and by sharing the podcast to amplify the conservation messages. He expresses excitement for future episodes and the continued efforts of all featured conservation heroes.
Notable Quote:
"If you were inspired by this or any episode in 2024, please consider supporting the Rewilding Institute and this podcast with a year-end donation."
— Jack (27:59)
This episode of the Rewilding Earth Podcast serves as a testament to the relentless dedication of conservationists worldwide. From groundbreaking legislative achievements and innovative artistic activism to critical wildlife reintroductions and urgent environmental battles, 2024 has been a pivotal year in the journey to rewild our planet. As the Rewilding Institute looks forward to 2025, the collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment of its community continue to drive meaningful change for Earth's wild inhabitants.