Nature Breaking

Back-to-school season is here—and it’s the perfect time to rethink how we pack lunches, buy supplies, and teach kids about sustainability. In this episode of Nature Breaking, hosts Seth Larson and Hayley Lawton share practical, eco-friendly tips for parents, teachers, and students to reduce waste and protect nature. Then you’ll hear an in-depth success story from Lovin Elementary School in Georgia, where educators and students have cut cafeteria food waste by over 70% with the help of WWF’s Food Waste Warriors program. Gerin Hennebaul, a teacher at Lovin Elementary, joins Seth to talk through her school’s journey. From reusable lunch gear to share tables and composting, this episode is full of ideas you can bring to your own school or home. Plus, learn about WWF’s Wild Classroom resources and a new grant opportunity for educators through the Green Prints for the Future initiative. 🎧 Tune in to discover how small changes can make a big impact—and how you can help raise the next generation of eco-smart kids. Links for More Info: Food Waste Warriors Wild Classroom toolkits Green Prints for the Future Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:21 Wild Guess trivia question 0:59 Intro 1:58 Seth and Hayley back to school memories 4:47 Back-to-school eco tips 9:53 WWF resources for educators 12:39 Interview with Gerin Hennebaul, a teacher involved in Food Waste Warriors 14:01 Background about Lovin Elementary School 17:00 How Lovin Elementary got started with Food Waste Warriors 22:11 Which solutions worked best to avoid food waste? 28:06 The “share table” 32:15 Composting program 33:53 Total impact of Food Waste Warriors 35:45 Closing summary 36:53 Wild Guess trivia answer

Once nearly wiped out, the plains bison, or buffalo, as they are often called by Native Americans, are returning to the Great Plains — and with them, a powerful story of cultural renewal, ecological restoration, and Indigenous leadership. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF’s Heather Dawn Thompson (a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) shares how Native Nations are leading efforts to restore buffalo populations, reclaim food sovereignty, and heal the land. From spiritual connections to practical conservation, this interview explores how buffalo are more than just wildlife — they are relatives, providers, and symbols of resilience. Learn about the Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration, the role of buffalo in grassland ecosystems, and how communities are working together to bring these iconic animals home. 🎧 Listen in and be inspired by a story that’s still unfolding — one rooted in tradition, science, and hope. Links for More Info: Heather Dawn Thompson bio Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration WWF’s Plains Bison page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:26 Intro 2:10 Heather Dawn’s background and role at WWF 7:58 History of buffalo and connection with Native Nations 10:07 Role of Heather Dawn’s family in conserving buffalo 13:00 What’s it like to see a buffalo in real life? 14:30 Buffalo harvest story 16:00 Connection between buffalo and healthy grasslands 20:16 Buffalo and food sovereignty for Native Nations 23:19 Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration 28:30 Biggest challenges to buffalo restoration

In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Linda Walker, WWF’s senior director of corporate engagement for forests, to explore the urgent threats to global forests and the role of business in helping reverse current trends.  Last month, alarming new data were released showing record-breaking tropical forest loss in 2024—an 80% increase over the previous year. Forests are critical to our planet and to us as humans, so we need to double down on efforts to stop the loss of forests where possible and more responsibly manage forests that are earmarked for production. Businesses have a big role to play because 54% of the world’s forests are managed either wholly or partly for the production of things like timber, pulp and paper, and furniture. This interview dives into how some companies are already making a difference, including by participating in Forests Forward—WWF’s flagship program for corporate leadership on forests launched in 2021. Linda and Seth also discuss what a new report, the Forests Forward Impact Report, reveals about the program’s progress and the challenges ahead.  🎧 Tune in to hear inspiring stories from the field, insights into responsible forest management, and how everyday actions—by companies and consumers—can help keep forests thriving. Links for More Info: Linda Walker bio Forests Forward Impact Report WWF’s Forests Forward program BLOG: Global Forest Watch data shows alarming rate of forest loss BLOG: To Secure our Forests, We Need Corporate Leadership Now More Than Ever   Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:25 Intro 2:09 Linda’s favorite forest memories 5:54 Global deforestation and the role of companies in managing forests 10:56 WWF’s Forests Forward program 21:11 Impacts of the program 24:09 HP example 27:16 Interholco example 30:39 Reasons for hope 33:57 How all of us can help protect forests 36:57 Outro

As the school year ends and the summer season begins, it’s time to think about how to integrate nature into your summer plans. In this edition of Nature Breaking’s “Headlines & Trendlines” series, hosts Seth Larson and Hayley Lawton share personal stories and practical tips for weaving nature into your everyday life. From backyard camping and local wildlife refuges to dream destinations like Yosemite and the Great Barrier Reef, this episode is full of ideas that are inspiring and doable—whether you’re planning a big trip or just want to make the most of your weekends. Plus, we’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite ways to connect with nature during the summer? Drop a comment or email us at news@wwfus.org. Listen in and get inspired to make this your most nature-filled summer yet. Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:26 Intro 2:00 Seth & Hayley’s childhood nature experiences 6:27 Simple ways to connect with nature close to home 10:20 Bucket-list nature destinations 12:39 Outro

Ahead of World Oceans Day and the UN Ocean Conference, this episode of Nature Breaking explores how local communities are leading the charge in ocean conservation. Join host Seth Larson and WWF’s Shauna Mahajan as they dive into the challenges and opportunities facing the Western Indian Ocean seascape—from climate change and overfishing to innovative community-led solutions. Shauna shares inspiring stories of how coastal communities in places like Tanzania and Madagascar are using tools like microfinance and co-management to protect marine ecosystems, support sustainable development, and build climate resilience. Learn how the open-source tool Elinor is helping track and improve conservation governance, and why community-led conservation is key to achieving global goals like the 30x30 target. 📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to support ocean conservation! Links for More Info: Shauna Mahajan bio Southwest Indian Ocean Seascape Elinor monitoring tool CHAPTERS: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 1:56 Shauna’s background 3:51 Western Indian Ocean seascape 6:46 Ingredients for successful community-led ocean initiatives 14:44 Elinor monitoring tool 20:47 The need for sustainable finance 26:30 UN Ocean Conference 28:09 Closing thoughts 29:47 Outro

Accelerating the use of clean energy technologies like solar panels and electric vehicles is essential to meet global climate goals. But doing so will require dramatically increasing the global supply of copper, cobalt, lithium and graphite that play critical roles in the production of solar cells, magnets for turbines, and EV batteries. And a significant way to get those materials is through mining. That poses a potential risk to nature. In order to better understand that risk and develop strategies to balance the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure with the conservation of natural habitats, WWF commissioned a new study on the impact of mining for energy transition minerals on nature globally. In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson interviews Colin Meehan, WWF’s senior director for renewable energy transitions. Colin led the development of this new study, and he shares key insights about the choices we need to make to meet global climate goals while also keeping nature intact and protecting communities. Links for More Info: WWF Report: Critical Minerals at a Critical Moment CHAPTERS:  0:00 Preview 0:17 Intro 2:05 Colin’s background 3:36 How much mining will be needed for a clean energy future? 6:03 Impact of mining for clean energy materials vs. mining for fossil fuels 7:03 Impact of critical minerals mining on nature 11:25 Strategies to mitigate impacts on nature 16:06 Surprising findings in the report 19:55 How to balance concerns around mining impacts with the urgency of climate change 25:41 Outro

This episode explores the critical issue of food waste and its impact on our planet. Join host Seth Larson as he speaks with Pete Pearson, vice president for food loss and waste at the World Wildlife Fund, about the staggering amount of food wasted globally and its connection to environmental degradation. Discover innovative solutions and initiatives aimed at reducing food waste, including the Food Waste Warriors program in schools, the Hotel Kitchen project, and the US Food Waste Pact. Learn practical tips on how you can minimize food waste in your own home and contribute to a more sustainable future. Don't miss this insightful conversation that highlights the importance of every action we take to preserve our natural world.   Links for More Info: Pete Pearson bio Food Waste Warriors Hotel Kitchen US Food Waste Pact WWF’s Food Waste PSA   CHAPTERS: 0:00 Preview 0:21 Intro 2:03 Food waste basics 4:27 Food Waste Warriors programs in schools 12:02 Hotel Kitchen program 19:13 US Food Waste Pact 25:25 Tips to stop food waste in your home 32:28 Federal and state policy support for food waste initiatives 37:24 Food waste reduction goals for the future 42:20 Outro

Join hosts Seth Larson and Hayley Lawton in this special Earth Day episode of Nature Breaking. Discover how simple actions can make a big impact on our planet. Seth and Hayley share their personal experiences participating in WWF's "Give an Hour for Earth" campaign, offering practical ideas for how you can get involved. From jogging in nature to reducing food waste, learn how you can contribute to WWF's goal of banking 125,000 hours by April 30th. Tune in for inspiring stories, easy tips, and a deeper appreciation for Earth Day and Earth Month. Links for More Info: WWF’s Give an Hour for Earth Campaign Webby Awards - Vote for Nature Breaking! Chapters: 0:00 Webby Awards update 0:40 Intro 2:50 Childhood memories of Earth Day 5:26 Give an Hour for Earth activities 11:05 How small actions can make a big difference 13:56 Outro

Today’s episode highlights a new initiative that aims to reduce the environmental footprint of leather production. Leather, as we all know, is sourced from cattle. And right now, cattle ranching for both beef and leather production is a major driver of deforestation, particularly in biomes such as the Amazon, Cerrado and Gran Chaco. In Brazil, for example, cattle ranching drives twice as much deforestation as the production of soy, palm oil, and wood products combined. It’s a major problem that we need to overcome if we’re going to save critical ecosystems, conserve species, and secure a stable future for our planet. That’s where the Deforestation-Free Leather Fund comes in. This new initiative, launched by WWF in March, gives companies that use leather in their products a chance to make a difference. This episode features an interview with the leader of that initiative, Fernando Bellese, about what exactly he hopes the fund will achieve. Companies or individuals interested in joining this effort can get more information in the links below. Links for More Info: Fernando Bellese bio Deforestation-Free Leather Fund BLOG: Leather Now Has a New Role: Helping to Prevent Deforestation CHAPTERS: 0:00 Preview 0:31 Intro 2:04 Fernando’s background 4:19 Difference between sustainable vs. unsustainable leather 8:10 Why is a fund needed? 13:50 How the fund works 28:21 Why should companies get involved? 31:27 How can consumers help? 34:25 Outro

Each year, millions of migratory eastern monarch butterflies embark on a breathtaking 3,000-mile migration from North America to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, where they hibernate in the towering Oyamel fir forests. But this iconic species is in trouble.  WWF’s research conducted with conservation partners since the early 2000s shows that the eastern monarch population has been trending downward for years. And while the latest report released by WWF and the Government of Mexico found that the population nearly doubled during the 2024-2025 winter, this latest finding is still far below the long-term average.  In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson speaks with Court Whelan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Natural Habitat Adventures, about the wonders of the monarch’s migration, the threats they face, and the conservation efforts bringing hope for their future. Discover how you can help protect these incredible pollinators, from planting native milkweed to utilizing your own personal “superpower” to advance conservation efforts. Join us for an inspiring conversation that highlights why monarchs are worth saving and what we can all do to ensure their survival. Links for More Info:Court Whelan bio Natural Habitat Adventures WWF: Eastern monarch butterfly population nearly doubles in 2025 WWF Milkweed Finder CHAPTERS: 0:00 Preview 0:15 Intro 1:58 Court’s backstory 4:53 Monarch migration 13:42 Inside an expedition to the monarch’s winter home in Mexico 16:45 A “snow globe” of monarchs 23:10 Threats to monarchs 24:48 Why should we care about saving monarchs? 30:37 Hope for the future of monarchs 33:14 Outro

In this special World Wildlife Day episode of Nature Breaking’s “Headlines & Trendlines” series, hosts Seth Larson and Hayley Lawton share uplifting conservation success stories that prove we can make a difference for endangered species. Discover how mountain gorillas have rebounded from critically endangered to endangered status with populations now exceeding 1,000 in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Learn about Bhutan's remarkable 40% increase in snow leopard numbers—these elusive "Ghosts of the Mountain" are making a comeback thanks to strategic conservation efforts. We also explore how cutting-edge AI technology and camera traps are helping monitor wildlife recovery after Australia's devastating 2020 bushfires, and how black rhinos have grown from just 2,400 to over 6,000 animals through targeted conservation initiatives. These success stories demonstrate that while many species face threats from habitat loss and poaching, collaborative conservation work is creating real impact. Join us to celebrate these wildlife victories and find hope for our planet's biodiversity. Links for More Info: WWF’s mountain gorillas page International Gorilla Conservation Program  Snow leopard conservation in Bhutan AI & camera traps in Australia Black rhino conservation study  CHAPTERS: 0:00 Preview 0:16 Intro 1:45 Seth & Hayley’s bucket list animals to see in the wild 4:07 Mountain gorillas 7:02 Snow leopards 10:27 Ghosts of the Mountain 11:59 How AI & camera traps helped identify wildlife after Australia’s bushfire in 2020 14:36 Black rhinos 17:56 Hayley’s black rhino encounter story 19:18 Closing reflections on World Wildlife Day 21:32 Outro

Last fall, the United Nations convened a major bi-annual conference focused on protecting the world’s biodiversity – that’s the vast array of animals, plants, waters, and other natural systems that sustain our planet and our very existence. The conference, known formally as the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP16 for short, succeeded on some fronts. But it fell short in other areas, and left some critical work unfinished. In particular, the conference ended without an agreement about how the nations of the world will finance the work that needs to happen to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. So next week, the conference will reconvene in Rome, Italy, to resume those negotiations and hopefully nail down a plan to raise the funds required for nature’s future.  Today’s episode features a conversation with Andrew Deutz, WWF’s managing director for global policy and partnerships. Andrew is an expert on conservation finance and he’ll walk through the key issues facing negotiators as COP16 resumes. Links for More Info: Andrew Deutz bio CBD COP16.2 WWF COP16 Explainer REPORT: “Financing Nature: Closing the Global Biodiversity Financing Gap” CHAPTERS: 0:00 Preview 0:21 Intro 2:06 Refresher on COP16 in Colombia 4:01 Progress for Indigenous peoples 5:08 Progress on nature targets 6:28 New fund for digital sequence information 9:45 Disagreements on finance plan 13:16 How much money do we need to protect nature? 20:37 Where will nature funding come from? 22:09 Key hurdles for negotiators in Rome 27:36 What’s at stake for people in these negotiations? 30:24 Outro

Last month a series of wildfires spread across communities in Los Angeles and left a trail of destruction in their wake. Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their neighborhoods. Over 15,000 homes and other structures were burned. And at least two dozen people were killed. It’s well documented that climate change contributes to making fires like these worse. And it also exacerbates other hazards like droughts, floods, and storms. So what can local leaders in LA and in other communities in the US and around the world do in the wake of these extreme events to address systemic risks and proactively reduce catastrophic disasters? Today you’ll hear from Anita van Breda, WWF’s senior director for environment and disaster management. Anita has decades of experience working with communities affected by natural hazards, and she’ll share her insights on disaster risk management and recovery in the wake of this most recent tragedy in LA. Links for More Info: Anita van Breda bio Web Story: What the 2004 tsunami taught us about disaster recovery Op-Ed: Why there is no such thing as a “natural” disaster Nature & Nature-Based Flood Management Guide Green Recovery & Risk Reduction CHAPTERS: 0:00 Preview 0:21 Intro 2:03 Lessons from the 2004 tsunami 5:09 Factors that contributed to LA wildfires 8:16 Disaster recovery tips for LA and other communities 11:49 Role of nature in disaster prevention and recovery 18:19 Parting advice to community leaders 21:10 Outro

We’re kicking off the new year with another edition of Nature Breaking’s “Headlines & Trendlines.” Seth is joined once again by Hayley Lawton as they count down four of their favorite conservation wins from 2024: major progress for bison restoration, a commitment to raise $1 billion to save wild tigers, innovations in “environmental DNA” that could change the way we approach conservation, and the first-ever photograph of a rare bird species. They’ll also close with a discussion of what they’re most excited about heading into 2025. Links for More Info: Web Story: Conservation Highlights of 2024  Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference eDNA Pilot Study in Bhutan New Britain Goshawk photo CHAPTERS:  0:00 Preview 0:12 Intro 1:36 Personal milestones in 2024 3:42 Bison restoration 5:54 Raising funds to save wild tigers 7:50 Environmental DNA 10:49 New Britain Goshawk photo 12:16 Things to watch in 2025 14:41 Outro

A major UN conference to negotiate a global treaty on plastic pollution just ended without an agreement. But efforts may resume in 2025 to get a treaty over the finish line. In this two-part episode, you’ll hear first from Erin Simon, WWF’s vice president for plastic waste and business, about what happened at that conference in Korea (known as INC-5) and what comes next for the global fight against plastic pollution. Then, in Part 2, you’ll hear from Sheila Bonini, WWF’s senior vice president for private-sector engagement; and Kevin Keane, president and CEO of American Beverage (ABA) – the trade association representing the nation’s non-alcoholic beverage industry. Sheila and Kevin’s teams have been working together for the last five years to find different ways to achieve material circularity – which means that all the plastic, as well as other materials like aluminum, that get used are collected and remade into new products. Sheila and Kevin will tell us about what’s working, what hurdles still remain, and how they plan to advance their mission regardless of whether a global plastics treaty gets adopted. Links for More Info: Erin Simon Bio Sheila Bonini Bio  Kevin Keane Bio  WWF Plastics Page WWF-ABA Partnership  Sustainability Works Blog: “Five Years of Progress: WWF and ABA’s Partnership for Practical Solutions”  WWF Statement on INC-5 Outcome  Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 2:22 Refresher on UN treaty process 5:39 Consensus as a weapon 8:52 What happened at INC-5 11:55 WWF’s 4 “must-haves” in a final treaty 13:53 Stumbling blocks in negotiations 17:26 Conclusion of negotiations 23:05 What happens next? 26:27 Role for companies 31:28 Interlude, Part 2 begins 33:07 Explaining the American Beverage Association 34:41 Why does ABA want to address plastic pollution? 38:08 WWF-ABA partnership 41:41 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies 46:54 Consumer awareness 48:39 ABA’s EPR principles 54:39 Building consumer confidence about recycling 56:30 Lessons for other industries 59:17 Plastic pollution is a bipartisan policy issue 01:02:41 WWF-ABA Lessons Learned 01:07:12 Outro

Ahead of this year's Thanksgiving holiday, today's episode revisits a conversation we originally recorded in 2022 about avoiding food waste when you get together to cook those turkeys and side dishes. This topic matters because some 316 million pounds of food is expected to go to waste this Thanksgiving alone. And when we waste food, we also waste all the water, land, and energy that went into producing it. Alex Nichols-Vinueza, WWF's director of food loss & waste, joins this episode to explain how our food system ends up wasting an estimated 40% of food produced globally (1:20). He then talks about how this problem manifests on Thanksgiving (8:07), and shares some simple steps that people can take to prevent food from going to waste during the holidays (9:04). Last, Alex talks about how schools and businesses can be partners in limiting food waste (11:52), and how changes in federal policies could drive nationwide improvements (15:30). Links for More Info: Alex Nichols-Vinueza bio BLOG: Serving Up Tips for a Waste Free Thanksgiving How schools can become Food Waste Warriors Industry Coalition Supports the Food Date Labeling Act

This week marks the start of the annual UN climate conference, known as COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. COP29 is being dubbed the “finance COP” because one of the main focuses of this year’s conference will be to set a new goal for global climate finance and to lay out a plan for achieving it. The last time countries set a climate finance goal was 2009, at COP15 in Copenhagen, where wealthy nations committed to provide $100 billion annually to help developing nations deal with climate change. 15 years after the $100 billion target was established, we now know a lot more about the effects of climate change and how much it costs to address. Estimates vary on how much funding is now needed, but suffice to say that it’s a lot higher than we thought it was back in 2009. So, where will this funding come from? And what’s a reasonable new goal for countries to work toward in the years ahead? Joining me today to talk through these and other questions is Tim Juliani, WWF’s director of US corporate climate engagement. Tim is a veteran of previous climate COPs and he’ll tell us what he’s keeping an eye on heading into Baku. Links for more info: Tim Juliani bio: https://www.worldwildlife.org/experts/tim-juliani WWF’s COP29 Expectations Paper: https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/cop29_expectations_24oct24.pdf Tim Juliani’s Substack, “Yet Another Climate Substack”: https://timjuliani.substack.com/   Chapters: 0:00 Program note 1:07 Intro 3:00 COP29 context in global process 4:59 COP15 in Copenhagen story 7:02 Definition of NDCs and stocktake 7:43 COP29 is the “finance COP” 10:17 Climate finance challenges 14:04 Finance goals at COP29 16:55 Role of companies 24:53 Goals for NDCs at COP29 28:07 Closing call to action 29:46 Outro

Today, rather than interviewing a WWF expert in-dept on a specific topic, we’re trying something new. Seth will be joined by Hayley Lawton from WWF’s social media team for something we’re calling: Headlines & Trendlines. You’ll hear Seth and Hayley briefly summarize some recent news articles and talk about what they mean for climate and nature. This week they discuss two big issues that are driving headlines: this year’s devastating hurricane season, and the ongoing UN biodiversity conference. They also touch on the recent pygmy hippo craze that had everyone on Earth talking about baby Moo Deng. Links for More Info: New York Times, A Tale of Two Hurricanes Finds More That Differs Than Is the Same: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/13/us/hurricane-milton-helene-florida-north-carolina.html  Vox, We need $700 billion to save nature: https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/378249/cop16-biodiversity-finance-gap-seven-hundred-billion WWF pygmy hippo facts: https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/why-are-pygmy-hippos-so-small-and-6-other-pygmy-hippo-facts  Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:27 Intro 2:25 Hayley introduces herself 4:10 NY Times hurricane article 5:56 Hayley & Seth react to recent hurricanes 9:28 Vox nature finance article 10:36 $700b is a lot of money 12:28: COP16 outcomes 13:25 Moo Deng and pygmy hippo facts 15:23 Outro

Next week global leaders will convene in Cali, Colombia for an important meeting: the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16). You’re probably more familiar with the climate COP that happens every year, but the biodiversity COP is a critical forum for addressing the loss of nature. Two years ago, at COP15 in Montreal, the nations of the world agreed to a new Global Biodiversity Framework, which set a goal to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. Next week’s meeting in Colombia is the first opportunity to take stock of progress and commit to implementation at scale. Joining the show today to tell us more about COP16 and what’s at stake is Lucía Ruiz, WWF’s director for conservation areas. Lucía will be attending the conference in Colombia next week and is going to help us understand what needs to happen, and what success looks like, at this important meeting. Links for More Info: Lucía Ruiz bio: https://www.worldwildlife.org/experts/lucia-ruiz-bustos  CBD COP16 explainer: https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/the-convention-on-biological-diversity-cop16-and-the-grand-plan-for-life-on-earth  Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:29 Intro 2:17 Lucía’s background and personal story 6:54 History of the Convention on Biological Diversity 12:10 Importance of CBD COPs 13:59 Context for CBD COP16 17:20 What happened at CBD COP15 in 2022? 22:22 Explaining the 30x30 target 27:36 Role of PFPs 28:27 State of play heading into COP16 33:26 What does success look like? 36:11 Fun facts about Colombia 39:28 Outro

In today’s special bonus episode of Nature Breaking you’ll hear all about WWF’s 2024 Living Planet Report. This bi-annual report functions as a check-up on the health of the Earth. Underpinning the report is the Living Planet Index, which monitors populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish around the world. This year the report found that monitored wildlife populations declined by an average of 73% since 1970. Importantly, this year’s report also reveals that the Earth stands on the verge of tipping points for tropical forests and coral reefs that could have severe consequences for people and nature everywhere.  Joining the show to explain the Living Planet Report is Dr. Rebecca Shaw, WWF’s chief scientist. Rebecca will walk us through the methodology of the report, what its key findings really mean for wildlife and ecosystems, and what we all can do together to put our planet on a more sustainable pathway. Links for More Info: Rebecca Shaw bio: https://www.worldwildlife.org/experts/rebecca-shaw 2024 Living Planet Report: worldwildlife.org/livingplanetreport Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:23 Intro 2:09 LPR basics & key findings 4:42 Reasons for wildlife decline 5:51 Why should we care? 7:55 Tipping points explainer 10:21 Amazon rain forest tipping point 12:22 Rebecca’s story about living in the Amazon 13:49 Amazon tipping point continued 14:54 LPR species example: parrotfish 18:09 History of the LPR 20:56 How to reverse the loss of wildlife and nature 28:12 Message to leaders at CBD COP16 32:58 Outro