Rewilding Earth Podcast

About Dennis holds a BS from New Mexico State University in Wildlife Science and an MS from the University of Montana in Wildlife Ecology. His 40 years of conservation work experience includes law enforcement, management, education, and research. Dennis is a former President of The Wildlands Project and currently serves as Vice President of the Taku-Atlin Conservancy and as a board member of the Pax Natura Foundation. I met Dennis Sizemore in 1995 at the Black Range Lodge situated on the edge of the Gila Wilderness. It was the beginning of the Sky Island Wildland Network Design project. I have always thought of Dennis as someone with the coolest job in the world. In 1991 he co-founded of Round River Conservation Studies, and has served as the organization’s executive director since then. Nearing 30 years of operation, Round River Conservation Studies has been responsible for varying degrees of protection and vastly greater understanding of millions of acres of wildands and countless species who make their homes there. 30 years of undergrad students getting an experience of a lifetime while doing field work many said couldn’t be done properly by undergrads. All over the world. Today I talk with Dennis about his work with Round River, sharing local wine and Kudu steak in the African bush with Michael Soule, and vital conservation efforts in many of the locations around the globe where Round River operates. Topics * Carrying out Michael Soule’s mission with every Round River field study * Working in Botswana on wildlife issues, community relations, and conservation work * The value of a Round River experience for undergrads (It’s WILD!) * When you should come out of your tent in the morning when elephants are in your camp (the answer might not surprise you!) Extra Credit * Visit Round River Conservation Studies * Round River YouTube Channel * Where RR Works * Student Programs About Dennis holds a BS from New Mexico State University in Wildlife Science and an MS from the University of Montana in Wildlife Ecology. His 40 years of conservation work experience includes law enforcement, management, education, and research. Dennis is a former President of The Wildlands Project and currently serves as Vice President of the Taku-Atlin Conservancy and as a board member of the Pax Natura Foundation. I met Dennis Sizemore in 1995 at the Black Range Lodge situated on the edge of the Gila Wilderness. It was the beginning of the Sky Island Wildland Network Design project. I have always thought of Dennis as someone with the coolest job in the world. In 1991 he co-founded of Round River Conservation Studies, and has served as the organization’s executive director since then. Nearing 30 years of operation, Round River Conservation Studies has been responsible for varying degrees of protection and vastly greater understanding of millions of acres of wildands and countless species who make their homes there. 30 years of undergrad students getting an experience of a lifetime while doing field work many said couldn’t be done properly by undergrads. All over the world. Today I talk with Dennis about his work with Round River, sharing local wine and Kudu steak in the African bush with Michael Soule, and vital conservation efforts in many of the locations around the globe where Round River operates. Topics * Carrying out Michael Soule’s mission with every Round River field study * Working in Botswana on wildlife issues, community relations,

About Don and Bob Don Waller is a forest ecologist, conservation biologist and evolutionary biologist who taught ecology, evolution, and conservation biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as the J.T. Curtis Professor until 2019. His research interests include the causes and consequences of inbreeding, the evolution of mating systems and life histories, rare plant demography and genetics, and the forces driving long-term forest community change. These include habitat fragmentation, climate change, aerial N deposition, invasive species, and deer browsing and other impacts. Dr Waller co-authored Wild Forests: Conservation Biology and Public Policy (Island Press 1994) and The Vanishing Present: Shifts in Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2008) as well as over 160 papers and book chapters. He chairs the Science Advisory Council for the midwestern Environmental Law and Policy Center. He serves on the Rewilding Leadership Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Bob Boucher has a MS in Water Resource Management from the UW Madison with an emphasis in ecosystem management of watersheds. He studies landscape ecology and is an advisor to the Beaver Institute. ​He was the founder of Milwaukee Riverkeeper and is the retired Executive Director of the Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation, Wisconsin’s oldest land trust. Bob has traveled to over 60 countries, exploring wild and tame places. He has worked in Alaska as a fishing, kayak and naturalist guide and led wilderness trips for Camp Manito-Wish. He is a member of the Birch Leggings club and has summited Denali. Bob and his wife Mary share a love of nature, wildlife, hiking, biking, skiing, their home, organic gardening and their dogs. Superior Bio-Preserve Map Topics * Acheiving 50% protection in upper midwest by 2050 * A giant 33,000 square mile wildlands network * The importance of indian tribes in policy and coalition building * Elevating the land ethics of how people live on the planet: stewardship vs extraction model * Heavy, non-compatible logging going on in upper midwest, the “paperbasket” of the United States. Extra Credit Visit: Superior Bio-Conservancy Read: The North American Wildlands Network: Four Megalinkages Further info focused on Don’s research: * Faculty spotlight: Don Waller, steward of Wisconsin forests * Wisconsin Plant Ecology Laboratory * Research Gate Profile * Talk at Humboldt University, Berlin, on long-term ecological change Deer in the upper Midwest: * Why hunt deer? * Deer Hunters and Balance * The Hunt for Answers * Citizen Science on Deer Impacts in Upper Midwest The Northwoods fight: * Rush Logging Will Harm The Northwoods *

About Jean Although Jean Ossorio wasn’t actually raised by wolves, she was taken to the Missouri woods for the first time at age six weeks. Her nature-loving parents met on a field trip. During childhood she accompanied them on annual camping expeditions to New Mexico and southern Colorado, falling in love with the Southwest and its native wildlife. After her parents retired to Silver City in 1971, she and her husband and daughter spent numerous holidays and summer vacations exploring New Mexico, especially the southwestern quadrant of the state. Jean has spent over 530 nights tent camping in the Mexican wolf recovery area since 1998, and has seen 57 Mexican wolves in the wild. She served on the stakeholder panel of the 2003 Mexican Wolf Recovery Team, on Governor Richardson’s Catron County Wolf Task Force in 2005, and as a pre-release pen sitter for the Coronado Pack in 2013. She writes occasional features for the website, “Lobos of the Southwest” (also known as mexicanwolves.org), and gives frequent public outreach programs on the Mexican gray wolf. Topics * Some of Jean’s favorite sightings and interactions with Mexican Wolves * Misconceptions about Mexican gray wolves * Patience, luck, and happenstance: the art of seeing wolves in the wild Extra Credit Check out MexicanWolves.org Jean’s articles on MexicanWolves.org * Remembering a Real-Life Super Wolf * Tribute to an Old Lobo Friend: Dark Canyon AM992 * Obituary: First Wild Mexican Gray Wolf Foster Mom Dies * Remembering Ernesta Other Articles * Defenders: Lucky Encounter * Expmag: “Mexican wolves are hated, feared, and imperiled. Jean Ossorio, 75, has seen more of them than almost anyone.” Read more… About Jean Although Jean Ossorio wasn’t actually raised by wolves, she was taken to the Missouri woods for the first time at age six weeks. Her nature-loving parents met on a field trip. During childhood she accompanied them on annual camping expeditions to New Mexico and southern Colorado, falling in love with the Southwest and its native wildlife. After her parents retired to Silver City in 1971, she and her husband and daughter spent numerous holidays and summer vacations exploring New Mexico, especially the southwestern quadrant of the state. Jean has spent over 530 nights tent camping in the Mexican wolf recovery area since 1998, and has seen 57 Mexican wolves in the wild. She served on the stakeholder panel of the 2003 Mexican Wolf Recovery Team, on Governor Richardson’s Catron County Wolf Task Force in 2005, and as a pre-release pen sitter for the Coronado Pack in 2013. She writes occasional features for the website, “Lobos of the Southwest” (also known as mexicanwolves.org), and gives frequent public outreach programs on the Mexican gray wolf. Topics * Some of Jean’s favorite sightings and interactions with Mexican Wolves * Misconceptions about Mexican gray wolves * Patience, luck, and happenstance: the art of seeing wolves in the wild Extra Credit Check out MexicanWolves.org Jean’s articles on MexicanWolves.org *

About Tyus Williams is a Wildlife Ecologist currently working with The University of Nevada Reno as a field ecologist. He went to school at the University of Georgia where he studied fisheries and wildlife science. After performing his undergraduate thesis on jaguars in Belize he is now pursuing graduate school in the interest of carnivore ecology and spatial analysis. Topics * Why fixing the equality and social justice problem is key to winning big conservation battles. * The need for better science funding. * The facts of incremental change vs. running out the clock. Will we make it in time? * Dealing with the onslaught of racial anxiety and social unrest as a black wildlife ecologist. Extra Credit * Follow Tyus on Twitter Tyus Recommends: * ACLU * NAACP * Atlanta Community Food Bank * Defenders of Wildlife * Human Rights Campaign * Backyard Basecamp * Outdoor Afro * Panthera About Tyus Williams is a Wildlife Ecologist currently working with The University of Nevada Reno as a field ecologist. He went to school at the University of Georgia where he studied fisheries and wildlife science. After performing his undergraduate thesis on jaguars in Belize he is now pursuing graduate school in the interest of carnivore ecology and spatial analysis. Topics * Why fixing the equality and social justice problem is key to winning big conservation battles. * The need for better science funding. * The facts of incremental change vs. running out the clock. Will we make it in time? * Dealing with the onslaught of racial anxiety and social unrest as a black wildlife ecologist. Extra Credit * Follow Tyus on Twitter Tyus Recommends: * ACLU * NAACP * Atlanta Community Food Bank * Defenders of Wildlife * Human Rights Campaign * Backyard Basecamp * Outdoor Afro * Panthera

About Paola grew up in South Africa, completed her academic training in the US, and is now based full-time in Mozambique.  She’s an ecologist and conservationist dedicated to the recovery of large carnivores and their co-existence with human communities in the Gorongosa Ecosystem of Central Mozambique. In May of 2012 Paola co-founded Projecto Leões da Gorongosa, directing research, capacity-building and strategic conservation efforts focused on large carnivores in partnership with the Park’s scientific, conservation and senior management teams. Academic summary: B.S. in Biology (2001) at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and M.S. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology (2005) at the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University.  Currently pursuing a PhD in Wildlife Management at University of Pretoria with Dr. Michael Somers focused on the ecological and social aspects of post-war recovery of large carnivores in Central Mozambique. Topics * Conservation is a crisis discipline. * Painted wolves reintroduced and thriving. * Gorongosa National Park has the “best lions ever!” according to Paola. * Elephant, Pangolins, Leopards, Waterbuck. Learn about an amazing park exploding with wildlife! Extra Credit * Check Out The Wildlife Of Gorongosa National Park!  * “The wild experiment to bring apex predators back from the brink” – Wired Magazine * WildCam Gorongosa * A Rewilding Success Story in Gorongosa National Park Watch for: A PBS feature that will air in late 2020 focused on return of Painted Wolves to Gorongosa Transcript Download Episode 57 Paola Bouley show transcript. (PDF) About Paola grew up in South Africa, completed her academic training in the US, and is now based full-time in Mozambique.  She’s an ecologist and conservationist dedicated to the recovery of large carnivores and their co-existence with human communities in the Gorongosa Ecosystem of Central Mozambique. In May of 2012 Paola co-founded Projecto Leões da Gorongosa, directing research, capacity-building and strategic conservation efforts focused on large carnivores in partnership with the Park’s scientific, conservation and senior management teams. Academic summary: B.S. in Biology (2001) at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and M.S. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology (2005) at the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University.  Currently pursuing a PhD in Wildlife Management at University of Pretoria with Dr. Michael Somers focused on the ecological and social aspects of post-war recovery of large carnivores in Central Mozambique. Topics * Conservation is a crisis discipline. * Painted wolves reintroduced and thriving.

About Kathleen Kathleen is a conservation leader recognized for her extensive experience in integrated large landscape conservation and development programs in Africa and North America. Kathleen has lived in Africa for 12 years. She was a senior staff member of the African Wildlife Foundation for 11 years, most recently serving as Vice President for East and Southern Africa. She also serves as a member of the Rewilding Leadership Council. She now leads Conservation Capital’s Business Consulting Africa division focusing on increasing revenue for protected area management and wildlife conservation. She serves as Senior Conservation Advisor to AWF. Kathleen has helped create new conservation areas, improve management of protected areas, established innovative public, private partnerships and led community conservation initiatives. She managed climate mitigation and adaptation programs and completed dozens of land transactions in North America and Africa. Topics * Challenging times for parks and conservancies in Africa who depend primarily or completely on tourism dollars to fund rangers and programs meant to protect African widlife and landscapes. * Innovating funding ideas to broaden parks and conservancies’ funding sources. * What’s really behind all the neat photos of lions lying in the middle of the road and the seeming break that wildlife is getting during the pandemic? * How you can help support African wildlife conservancies and parks. Extra Credit The Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA) is a Kenyan commitment, to conserve the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem, through a network of protected areas (conservancies and conservation areas). Conservation Capital develops financial and business driven solutions to support the world’s most important conservation areas. About Kathleen Kathleen is a conservation leader recognized for her extensive experience in integrated large landscape conservation and development programs in Africa and North America. Kathleen has lived in Africa for 12 years. She was a senior staff member of the African Wildlife Foundation for 11 years, most recently serving as Vice President for East and Southern Africa. She also serves as a member of the Rewilding Leadership Council. She now leads Conservation Capital’s Business Consulting Africa division focusing on increasing revenue for protected area management and wildlife conservation. She serves as Senior Conservation Advisor to AWF. Kathleen has helped create new conservation areas, improve management of protected areas, established innovative public, private partnerships and led community conservation initiatives. She managed climate mitigation and adaptation programs and completed dozens of land transactions in North America and Africa. Topics * Challenging times for parks and conservancies in Africa who depend primarily or completely on tourism dollars to fund rangers and programs meant to protect African widlife and landscapes. * Innovating funding ideas to broaden parks and conservancies’ funding sources. * What’s really behind all the neat photos of lions lying in the middle of the road and the seeming break that wildlife is getting during the pandemic? * How you can help support African wildlife conservancies and parks. Extra Credit The

About Kurt A former archaeologist, Kurt Menke is a geospatial generalist based in Albuquerque. He founded Bird’s Eye View to apply his expertise with GIS technology towards solving the world’s mounting ecological, economic and social issues. His areas of focus are public health, conservation and education. Kurt has a broad skill set. He is a spatial analyst, cartographer, web map developer, trainer/teacher and author. He is also one of the newest members of the Rewilding Leadership Council. Kurt has been involved in myriad conservation mapping projects, including one we talk about today, the very successful Tijeras Canyon wildlife passage. We start with a bit of background before we really geek out on the vital importance of mapping to rewilding projects around the world. Topics * Why mapping is crucial to the vision and success of any rewilding project * How good maps are worth many thousands of words when it comes to depicting on-the-ground elements important to reconnecting and protecting habitat and species * The successful Tijeras Canyon wildlife passage project * Kurt’s favorite “back of a napkin” map by Dave Foreman Extra Credit * Visit Kurt at Bird’s Eye View GIS and on Twitter * Read more about Kurt’s background on his Rewilding Leadership Council page About Kurt A former archaeologist, Kurt Menke is a geospatial generalist based in Albuquerque. He founded Bird’s Eye View to apply his expertise with GIS technology towards solving the world’s mounting ecological, economic and social issues. His areas of focus are public health, conservation and education. Kurt has a broad skill set. He is a spatial analyst, cartographer, web map developer, trainer/teacher and author. He is also one of the newest members of the Rewilding Leadership Council. Kurt has been involved in myriad conservation mapping projects, including one we talk about today, the very successful Tijeras Canyon wildlife passage. We start with a bit of background before we really geek out on the vital importance of mapping to rewilding projects around the world. Topics * Why mapping is crucial to the vision and success of any rewilding project * How good maps are worth many thousands of words when it comes to depicting on-the-ground elements important to reconnecting and protecting habitat and species * The successful Tijeras Canyon wildlife passage project * Kurt’s favorite “back of a napkin” map by Dave Foreman Extra Credit * Visit Kurt at Bird’s Eye View GIS and on Twitter * Read more about Kurt’s background on his Rewilding Leadership Council page

About Karen is a lifelong environmentalist, naturalist, educator, poet,  author and overpopulation activist. She began her career as a naturalist in 1983 and as the director of the City of Richfield’s Wood Lake Nature Center in 1991. She is passionate about the role nature centers can make in keeping communities thriving. She is a former public and private school teacher and received her doctorate from the University of St. Thomas in 2002 where she studied critical pedagogy and its implications for the future of nature centers. As a member of the advisory board of the non-profit “ World Population Balance,” she has become deeply alarmed by the lack of discourse surrounding the overpopulation crisis. In 2015 she published her book Move Upstream, A Call To Solve Overpopulation. Topics * What is an upstream conversation on population or conservation? * Context matters: where and when to engage on issues depends on what part of the “river” you’re on. * Solving overpopulation is one of the hardest conversations to have. Tips for communicating effectively on population issues. Extra Credit * Read Karen’s article here on Rewilding.org: It’s Hard to Practice Social Distancing in an Overpopulated World * Karen’s site: MovingUpstream.com About Karen is a lifelong environmentalist, naturalist, educator, poet,  author and overpopulation activist. She began her career as a naturalist in 1983 and as the director of the City of Richfield’s Wood Lake Nature Center in 1991. She is passionate about the role nature centers can make in keeping communities thriving. She is a former public and private school teacher and received her doctorate from the University of St. Thomas in 2002 where she studied critical pedagogy and its implications for the future of nature centers. As a member of the advisory board of the non-profit “ World Population Balance,” she has become deeply alarmed by the lack of discourse surrounding the overpopulation crisis. In 2015 she published her book Move Upstream, A Call To Solve Overpopulation. Topics * What is an upstream conversation on population or conservation? * Context matters: where and when to engage on issues depends on what part of the “river” you’re on. * Solving overpopulation is one of the hardest conversations to have. Tips for communicating effectively on population issues. Extra Credit * Read Karen’s article here on Rewilding.org: It’s Hard to Practice Social Distancing in an Overpopulated World * Karen’s site: MovingUpstream.com

Host’s Note: Today’s talk with Crista Valentino about next-gen conservation reinforces my sincere belief that our planet is in good hands. “Better leave her behind with the kids, they’re alright The kids are alright” ~ The Who About Crista Crista co-founded CoalitionWILD in 2013 after an invitation from the WILD Foundation to address the lack of support and visibility available to younger generations in the environmental sector. She continues to lobby for a stronger integration of youth voices and empowerment in organizational and business decision making, and has achieved this through recently co-publishing an intergenerational leadership toolkit for conservation and leading multiple projects that accelerate and further initiatives around the world being led by young people for nature. Crista is the North American Focal Point for the World Commission on Protected Areas Young Professionals, was named Wyoming’s Top 40 under 40, and is on the Executive Committee for the 11th World Wilderness Congress. Topics * Engaging younger generations in conservation work starts with allowing them to follow their passion * Seeding the world with young leaders who are making a difference * Conservation for regular people from all backgrounds * Similarities and differences between old guard Wilderness advocates and younger generation’s strategy for protecting biodiversity Extra Credit Visit: CoalitionWILD Reading: “How Our Emotions Could Help Save The World” Show transcript Host’s Note: Today’s talk with Crista Valentino about next-gen conservation reinforces my sincere belief that our planet is in good hands. “Better leave her behind with the kids, they’re alright The kids are alright” ~ The Who About Crista Crista co-founded CoalitionWILD in 2013 after an invitation from the WILD Foundation to address the lack of support and visibility available to younger generations in the environmental sector. She continues to lobby for a stronger integration of youth voices and empowerment in organizational and business decision making, and has achieved this through recently co-publishing an intergenerational leadership toolkit for conservation and leading multiple projects that accelerate and further initiatives around the world being led by young people for nature. Crista is the North American Focal Point for the World Commission on Protected Areas Young Professionals, was named Wyoming’s Top 40 under 40, and is on the Executive Committee for the 11th World Wilderness Congress. Topics * Engaging younger generations in conservation work starts with allowing them to follow their passion * Seeding the world with young leaders who are making a difference * Conservation for regular people from all backgrounds * Similarities and differences between old guard Wilderness advocates and younger generation’s strategy for protecting biodiversity

About Joe Joseph Bish is Director of Issue Advocacy for Population Media Center An expert on population, family-planning, and other global sustainability issues related to PMC’s mission, Joe ensures Marketing and Communications initiatives include effective and focused advocacy messaging. Monitoring and analyzing new trends in PMC’s focus issue areas, the field of social change communications, and PMC’s operational landscape, he communicates these findings to both external and internal audiences. Joe holds a Master of Science in Environmental Advocacy and Organizing from Antioch University New England. Topics * How storytelling is used to change societal norms and beliefs around conservation and population issues. * The lessons learned from embedding important education and messaging in entertainment programming. Extra Credit Reading: PMC’s analysis of the most influential drivers of ongoing global population growth Watch: PMC’s “Theory of Change” Recent Blog Posts: * THE END OF POPULATION GROWTH DEPENDS ON LOWER IDEAL FAMILY SIZE * OVERPOPULATED COUNTRIES, UNSUSTAINABLE CIVILIZATION * BELOW-REPLACEMENT-LEVEL FERTILITY: DON’T FEAR IT, ROSS DOUTHAT About Joe Joseph Bish is Director of Issue Advocacy for Population Media Center An expert on population, family-planning, and other global sustainability issues related to PMC’s mission, Joe ensures Marketing and Communications initiatives include effective and focused advocacy messaging. Monitoring and analyzing new trends in PMC’s focus issue areas, the field of social change communications, and PMC’s operational landscape, he communicates these findings to both external and internal audiences. Joe holds a Master of Science in Environmental Advocacy and Organizing from Antioch University New England. Topics * How storytelling is used to change societal norms and beliefs around conservation and population issues. * The lessons learned from embedding important education and messaging in entertainment programming. Extra Credit Reading: PMC’s analysis of the most influential drivers of ongoing global population growth Watch: PMC’s “Theory of Change” Recent Blog Posts: * THE END OF POPULATION GROWTH DEPENDS ON LOWER IDEAL FAMILY SIZE * OVERPOPULATED COUNTRIES, UNSUSTAINABLE CIVILIZATION * BELOW-REPLACEMENT-LEVEL FERTILITY: DON’T FEAR IT, ROSS DOUTHAT

About Kim Kim Vacariu is the former Western Director for Wildlands Network (1998-2017) where he organized and led the 25 conservation organizations making up the Western Wildway Network in its efforts to connect wildlife habitat corridors from Alaska to Mexico. Kim has been instrumental in elevating the recognition of habitat connectivity threats posed by the walling off of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, including organization of the first Border Ecological Symposiums in Arizona. He also convened the first private lands conservation workshops in Arizona, and was a co-recipient of the Federal Highway Administration’s 2007 Environmental Excellence Award for his work on Arizona’s statewide Wildlife Linkage Assessment.  Kim was co-author in 2000 of the ground-breaking Sky Islands Wildlands Network Design – the first effort to publish specific science-based maps and implementation steps required for protection of regional habitat networks. Topics * The need for a conservation media coalition and professional messaging campaigns with commercial reach. * How to reach people who don’t think about conservation daily, or much at all, and get them on board. * Meeting people where they are, rather than wagging fingers and moralizing. * The need for a focused, global, ongoing campaign for conservation put together by a professional ad agency. Extra Credit Read Kim’s article: To Win, Conservationists Must Change Their Message   About Kim Kim Vacariu is the former Western Director for Wildlands Network (1998-2017) where he organized and led the 25 conservation organizations making up the Western Wildway Network in its efforts to connect wildlife habitat corridors from Alaska to Mexico. Kim has been instrumental in elevating the recognition of habitat connectivity threats posed by the walling off of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, including organization of the first Border Ecological Symposiums in Arizona. He also convened the first private lands conservation workshops in Arizona, and was a co-recipient of the Federal Highway Administration’s 2007 Environmental Excellence Award for his work on Arizona’s statewide Wildlife Linkage Assessment.  Kim was co-author in 2000 of the ground-breaking Sky Islands Wildlands Network Design – the first effort to publish specific science-based maps and implementation steps required for protection of regional habitat networks. Topics * The need for a conservation media coalition and professional messaging campaigns with commercial reach. * How to reach people who don’t think about conservation daily, or much at all, and get them on board. * Meeting people where they are, rather than wagging fingers and moralizing. * The need for a focused, global, ongoing campaign for conservation put together by a professional ad agency. Extra Credit Read Kim’s article: To Win, Conservationists Must Change Their Message  

About Howie Wolke Howie Wolke is a nationally-known advocate for protecting wilderness and was a co-founder of the original Earth First! He is the author of Wilderness On the Rocks and co-authored The Big Outside, a historic inventory of America’s remaining wilderness lands, with our own Dave Foreman. He has served as the President of the national conservation group Wilderness Watch. Howie has led well over five-hundred multi-day treks since the mid 1970s. The founder of Big Wild Adventures, Howie is probably the most experienced backpacking guide in the Western U.S. He has a particular affinity for wolves and grizzly bears, is an avid hunter, back-country skier, river-runner and bird-watcher, and has a B.S. in Conservation and Wildlife Ecology. Topics * Wilderness as outdoor gymnasiums * How to reach 50% of the U.S. protected as wildlands * Wilderness designation in national parks * Did you know there were different versions of the Wilderness Act? * The magic word Howard Zahniser included in the Wilderness Act that made all the difference * WINO (Wilderness in name only) * Cracking a dam Extra Credit Visit: Wilderness Watch | Big Wild Adventures Read: Wilderness On the Rocks & The Big Outside (Scroll to see description and purchase link) — This is Rewilding Earth Podcast’s 50th Episode! I’d like to thank the Rewilding Earth board for agreeing to the (then) odd idea that we produce and host our own podcast. Since Episode 1 with Dave Foreman, I’ve had the honor of interviewing a range of guests from organizations around the world. Some in the beginning of their careers and others seasoned icons of the conservation movement. Interviewing your heros can be intimidating and thrilling. And the work of helping to educate and inspire a new generation of conservation heroes is a responsibility I do not take lightly. Archiving the energy, wisdom, and passionate voices of conservation authors, scientists, founders, and artists is my passion. I can’t wait to see what the next 50 episodes of Rewilding Earth contributes to the fight to protect the remaining biodiversity of this fragile planet. -Jack Humphrey, Host of the Rewilding Earth Podcast About Howie Wolke Howie Wolke is a nationally-known advocate for protecting wilderness and was a co-founder of the original Earth First! He is the author of Wilderness On the Rocks and co-authored The Big Outside, a historic inventory of America’s remaining wilderness lands, with our own Dave Foreman. He has served as the President of the national conserva...

About Allison Allison Jones received her B.A in Environmental Studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz under the guidance of her mentor and advisor, Michael Soule.  She then completed her M.S in Conservation Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1996.  Her Masters study analyzed the effects of cattle grazing on small mammal communities in the Great Basin.   Allison then went to work as the staff conservation biologist for the Wild Utah Project in late 1999.  In 2014 Allison ascended to Executive Director of Wild Utah Project, until she moved on from the organization in January of 2020. Allison currently serves as principal of Allison L Jones, LLC, where she specializes in large landscape scale conservation analyses, and analyses of state and federal wildlife and habitat management plans and revisions. Allison works on a contract basis to University researchers, independent scientists, government agencies, and conservation NGOs. We are proud to announce Allison as a new member of the Rewilding Leadership Council. Topics * Citizen science and its role in shaping public and private lands conservation * Juggling a huge volunteer effort as part of Wild Utah Project’s Citizen Science initiatives * Human-made beaver dams vs beaver-made beaver dams – What’s the deal with that? * Winning over initially reluctant stakeholders to the side of conservation Extra Credit * Visit Allison on LinkedIn Learn more about Wild Utah Project * Visit Western Wildlife Conservancy * Download: Show Transcript (PDF) About Allison Allison Jones received her B.A in Environmental Studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz under the guidance of her mentor and advisor, Michael Soule.  She then completed her M.S in Conservation Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1996.  Her Masters study analyzed the effects of cattle grazing on small mammal communities in the Great Basin.   Allison then went to work as the staff conservation biologist for the Wild Utah Project in late 1999.  In 2014 Allison ascended to Executive Director of Wild Utah Project, until she moved on from the organization in January of 2020. Allison currently serves as principal of Allison L Jones, LLC, where she specializes in large landscape scale conservation analyses, and analyses of state and federal wildlife and habitat management plans and revisions. Allison works on a contract basis to University researchers, independent scientists, government agencies, and conservation NGOs. We are proud to announce Allison as a new member of the Rewilding Leadership Council. Topics * Citizen science and its role in shaping public and private lands conservation * Juggling a huge volunteer effort as part of Wild Utah Project’s Citizen Science initiatives * Human-made beaver dams vs beaver-made beaver dams – What’s the deal with that? * Winning over initially reluctant stakeholders to the side of conservation Extra Credit * Visit Allison on LinkedIn Learn more about Wild Utah Project * Visit Western Wildlife Conservancy

About Rex Weyler is a writer and ecologist. His books include Blood of the Land, a history of indigenous American nations, nominated for a Pulitzer Prize; Greenpeace: The Inside Story, a finalist for the BC Book Award and the Shaughnessy-Cohen Award for Political Writing; and The Jesus Sayings, a deconstruction of first century history, a finalist for the BC Book Award. In the 1970s, Weyler was a cofounder of Greenpeace International and editor of the Greenpeace Chronicles. He served on campaigns to preserve rivers and forests, and to stop whaling, sealing, and toxic dumping. He currently writes a monthly column on the Greenpeace International website. Topics * The double bind of the pandemic. * How can we emerge with a far greater respect for nature? * The one solution that most environmentalists refuse to tackle. * Hope for the future of humanity and nature still reigns. Extra Credit Visit: Rex Weyler’s website Essays from Rex Weyler * Ecological Trauma and Common Addiction * What can we do? A prescription for taking action * How do systems get unstuck? Learning to face difficulty like a living system * Does human scale matter? About overshoot   About Rex Weyler is a writer and ecologist. His books include Blood of the Land, a history of indigenous American nations, nominated for a Pulitzer Prize; Greenpeace: The Inside Story, a finalist for the BC Book Award and the Shaughnessy-Cohen Award for Political Writing; and The Jesus Sayings, a deconstruction of first century history, a finalist for the BC Book Award. In the 1970s, Weyler was a cofounder of Greenpeace International and editor of the Greenpeace Chronicles. He served on campaigns to preserve rivers and forests, and to stop whaling, sealing, and toxic dumping. He currently writes a monthly column on the Greenpeace International website. Topics

About Laiken Laiken Jordahl, Borderlands Campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity, works to protect wildlife and communities across the U.S.-Mexico borderlands from border wall construction and militarization. Before joining the Center, Laiken worked with the National Park Service researching threats to wilderness character at five National Park Service wilderness areas. He studied the impacts of border activity on wilderness resources at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Big Bend National Park, which led him to become an advocate against border walls and militarization. Laiken has also worked as a legislative fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives, a bike mechanic, and a clam farmer in Washington State. Topics * Border wall construction and its effects on wildland connectivity, water, communities, and wildlife * The laws that are being “waived” to construct the border wall by the Trump administration * Up close and personal with the wounds this wall construction is causing * What it’s like to be a “disaster tour guide” * What can be done about restoring the wildlands affected by the wall once Trump is out Extra Credit Follow Laiken on Twitter Read Laiken’s article: “Trump’s wall is destroying the environment we worked to protect” “Imagine dedicating your entire life to protecting a place. Then imagine watching everything you’ve worked to protect be bulldozed by a desperate, self-serving president. That’s what’s happening right now to career scientists and conservationists at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on Arizona’s border with Mexico. I used to work there too. It breaks my heart.” [Read more…] Trump is racing to build his despicable #BorderWall through the most stunning & remote corner of Arizona. Last week I took a trip down the historic Devil’s Highway to document the heartbreaking destruction & share it with the world. I came home horrified by what I saw. pic.twitter.com/9UrcWkOTwX — Laiken Jordahl (@LaikenJordahl) April 29, 2020 #BorderWall construction in the rugged Tinajas Altas Mountains looks more like a strip mine than border security. These are your tax dollars at work—blowing up an impassible range that already serves as a border in the most remote corner of Arizona. pic.twitter.com/iOJzFCiz8E — Laiken Jordahl (@LaikenJordahl) April 28, 2020 The tweet that really got me and made up my mind that Laiken needed to be our next guest on Rewilding Earth podcast: Daily reminder: while we’re all stuck inside, the Trump admin is racing to build the #BorderWall, leaving nothing but carnage in its wake. pic.twitter.com/iDajTJdMEb — Laiken Jordahl (@LaikenJordahl) April 21, 2020 About Laiken Laiken Jordahl,