TalkLandscape

We’re currently living through a recording breaking ‘Super El Niño’ that is knocking weather systems out of balance, causing storms, floods and droughts around the world.  El Niños are natural events , but new research suggests that human-caused climate change might be making them stronger – with deadly repercussions. To find out more, we’re chatting with the lead author of that research: Julia Co...

For many countries, 2026 has already been the worst year on record for wildfires. From the old-growth forests of Canada to the peatlands of Indonesia to the heathlands of England, ecosystems around the world are burning. But while environmentalists and communities are trying to build natural resilience, a narrative has emerged that seems to throw doubt on their efforts: that rewilding actually mak...

Wildlife trafficking has been supercharged by the digital world, from online marketplaces to untraceable currencies, but anti-trafficking experts are using their own cutting-edge tech to fight back. In episode 14 of TalkLandscape, we speak with Oli Wright, a project officer at TRAFFIC , about the scale of the illegal wildlife industry, its wide-reaching impacts and why every plant and animal taken...

Agriculture is vital to humanity, but it’s also the leading driver of terrestrial biodiversity loss and responsible for up to a third of human-made greenhouse gas emissions. One solution that has been gaining traction in recent years is regenerative agriculture . Regenerative agriculture covers a wide range of practices that improve soil health and ecosystems while producing the food and goods hum...

Almost a third of Africa is rangelands – large open landscapes of grasses, shrubs, woods and deserts that are grazed by wild animals and livestock. These vast areas offer unique biodiversity, global climate services and significant economic benefits on a local and national level. However, like many other ecosystems around the world, they are under threat, with large areas now severely degraded. Bu...

Women still face many systemic barriers around the world, from gender bias and marginalization to underrepresentation in decision making.  But wherever there are challenges, there are women overcoming them by re-envisioning policy, economies, education and climate solutions.  In episode 11 of TalkLandscape, we speak to two amazing guests from previous 8 Women celebrations and kick off GLF Women: a...

The world’s oceans are vast, and more than half are outside the jurisdiction of any one country.  These so-called ‘high seas’ are vitally important to the environment,  biodiversity  and global economy, but they face a growing number of threats.  The United Nations has introduced a  landmark treaty  to safeguard them – but what will it do and is it enough?  In  episode 10 of TalkLandscape ,   we ...

Can genetic engineering save an endangered species – or bring back one that is already extinct? Is it safe to figure this out by experimenting in the field? In episode 9 of TalkLandscape, we explore the world of  synthetic biology in conservation . Synthetic biology  is a cutting-edge science that looks at how biological organisms can be modified or created, especially through the use of genetic e...

Let’s talk about  how  we talk about the climate crisis. In an era when disinformation spreads rapidly across social media, much of it generated by AI, we need to unpack how climate narratives are created. In the increasingly contested field of climate communication, whose voices are being heard or silenced? And who – or what – gets to decide what stories land in your social feeds? In  episode 8 o...

Forests are homes, climate regulators and sources of food, water and cultural value. But can they also spearhead an economic transformation that protects livelihoods and the environment at the same time?  In episode 7 of TalkLandscape, find out how communities are managing forests sustainably – turning them into a source of sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem resilience.  Discover the forest bio...

Your grocery bills keep climbing, your favorite park isn’t what it used to be and small talk about the weather keeps turning into anxious conversation about the state of the planet.  In short, you’re feeling the effects of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and land degradation.  But the high-level conferences designed to tackle these crises – like the upcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazi...

When was the last time you truly marveled at a swamp? Or felt grateful for the soggy marshes in your town?   These aquatic landscapes are wetland ecosystems, and while they might be often overlooked, they are nature’s quiet superheroes: filtering our water, sheltering biodiversity, capturing carbon and even protecting communities from storms and floods.  But although these ecosystems are increasin...

Africa is incredibly rich in natural resources – from lush forests and fertile soils to a third of the world’s biodiversity. But this natural wealth is as vast as it is vulnerable.  The impacts of the climate crisis are intensifying across the continent. Unpredictable rainfall, land degradation and extreme temperatures pose growing threats to those who depend on these resources.  This reality, com...

Every year, somewhere in the world, something is burning. They’re becoming a yearly reality for people in rural and urban areas across the globe – with devastating effects.  This crisis is both widespread and deeply personal. In Episode 2 of TalkLandscape, we explore how to shift from reactive to resilient, from fire suppression to fire prevention – combining traditional knowledge, scientific rese...

Our lives wouldn’t be the same without forests. They purify air, capture carbon, and provide innumerable ecosystem services worldwide. But forest ecosystems do more than regulate our global climate – they also offer major benefits to our personal and collective well-being. But how can we harness the benefits of forests if we can’t get to them? More than half of the world’s population lives in citi...