Nature Conversations: Dr. Adam Forbes Interviews the Experts

In this episode I’m joined by Professor Ian Dickie and we discuss mycorrhizal fungi, the underground partnerships between fungi and plants that shape nutrient cycling, forest regeneration, invasive species dynamics, and restoration success. We explore how these hidden fungal networks influence ecosystems, what restoration practitioners should be paying more attention to, and why understanding soil...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Mike Marden. Mike brings more than 40 years of experience studying landscapes through the lens of geology and geomorphology, with a particular focus on erosion processes, vegetation dynamics, and land management. We explore Mike’s research journey and unpack the key drivers of erosion — what causes it, how it accelerates, and why some landscapes are more vulnerabl...

In this episode of Nature Conversations, I speak with Marie Taylor — a communicator, conservationist, and one of the most passionate advocates for native plants you’ll ever meet. Marie runs her own native plant nursery, Plant Hawke’s Bay, where she not only supplies plants for large-scale restoration projects but also takes personal responsibility for propagating some of the rarest and most threat...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Mike Joy, one of New Zealand’s most respected and outspoken freshwater ecologists. A former dairy farm worker turned academic, Mike’s journey into environmental science was driven by what he witnessed firsthand—degrading waterways and the ecological cost of intensive agriculture. He went on to earn a PhD in ecology and freshwater biology and has since become a le...

In this episode of Nature Conversations, I sit down in person with renowned botanist Dr Hugh Wilson, the driving force behind Hinewai Reserve, a groundbreaking native forest regeneration project in New Zealand. For over 40 years, Hugh has championed a philosophy of minimal intervention, allowing nature to do the heavy lifting in ecological restoration. In our conversation, Hugh shares candid insig...

In this episode of Nature Conversations, I speak with Associate Professor Tim Curran, a plant ecologist specialising in plant flammability and extreme disturbance events like fire, drought, and cyclones. Tim discusses his work on measuring plant flammability and how plant traits influence fire behaviour, with a focus on identifying low-flammability species to create green firebreaks. These firebre...

In this episode I’m speaking with Amy England who is the Regional Biodiversity Transformation Manager at the Gisborne District Council. Amy has had a career centered on conservation and has been central to the planning and delivery of the Waingake Transformation Programme. Amy is the perfect person to tell us all about this nationally significant restoration project. Note: I have advised on this p...

Dr Colin Miskelly has been keen on natural history all of his life and has progressed through a long career with the NZ Department of Conservation. He is currently the Curator of Vertebrates at The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Colin joined me on the podcast to discuss his big adventure - walking the length of New Zealand and counting all the birds he saw or heard from the trail, both d...

In this episode I am joined by Todd Dudley. Todd is the President of the North East Bioregional Network in Tasmania and he has been working as a Bush Regenerator in Australia for 40 years. Todd was a key initiator of the Skyline Tier Restoration Project, which is successfully applying Assisted Natural Regeneration techniques to restore native forest across 2000 ha of radiata pine clear fells in no...

In this episode I am joined by Dr Kate McAlpine. Kate is a leading Weed Ecologist and is a Science Advisor at the New Zealand Department of Conservation. She has researched weeds and weed ecology comprehensively across New Zealand. Her publications span the impacts and dispersal of weeds, native seedling recruitment in the presence of weeds and mammals, and native plant succession in woody weed st...

In this episode I am joined by Dr Shaun Wilkinson. Shaun is a leading expert in eDNA monitoring and the CEO and founder of the DNA sequencing lab, Wilderlab. Shaun explains many aspects of eDNA monitoring and tells me about some exciting applications of this emerging monitoring technique. I hope you enjoy this episode. You can learn more about Wilderlab via their website: https://www.wilderlab.co....

In this episode I was fortunate to have Emeritus Professor Robin Chazdon join me for a discussion about her work in Forest Landscape Restoration and Assisted Natural Regeneration.  It is very interesting to contemplate applications of Robin's expertise in Aotearoa New Zealand.   Links mentioned in episode: Forestation International: https://forestorationinternational.org/ World Resources Institute...

In this episode Lydia Green, the Founder and Project Director of the Manta Watch New Zealand Charitable Trust, joins me to discuss her work with the Oceanic Manta Ray in the waters of Aotearoa and across the South Pacific Ocean.   Links mentioned during the podcast: Sightings Map -  https://mantawatchnz.org/sightings-map/   Data Collection Guide - https://mantawatchnz.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/1...

In this episode I speak with Professor Karen Holl about her experiences with long-term forest restoration research, global tree planting campaigns, how restoration fits with addressing global climate and biodiversity crises, and some of her fieldwork activities. Hope you enjoy the episode.   About the podcast: Hi! I’m Dr Adam Forbes. I am an Ecologist who specialises in the restoration of forest e...