A Saving Nature Conversation

aschiffer

A podcast born from our live webinar series, featuring conversations with conservationists, scientists, artists, and local leaders working to protect biodiversity and restore nature. From forest corridors to community-led action, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the frontlines of environmental change. Hosted by Andy Schiffer.

  1. 11/12/2025

    A Rare Conversation with Dr. Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela on Colombia’s Cundinamarca Antpitta Confirmation

    THE PROJECT AND THE BIRD | Saving Colombia’s Cundinamarca Antpitta with Dr. Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most targeted and hopeful conservation efforts in the Colombian Andes: the strategic protection of 43 new acres that extend forest habitat from Refugio del Tororoi, reconnecting isolated patches into a functioning corridor for the Critically Endangered Cundinamarca Antpitta (Grallaria kaestneri). Dr. Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, conservation scientist and Assistant Professor at UC Santa Cruz, joins Dr. Stuart Pimm and Andy Schiffer to unpack the science, strategy, and stories behind this land purchase—and why this tiny bird urgently needs continuous cloud-forest to survive. 🌿 In this episode we explore: • How the Antpitta corridor project came about and why these 43 acres were the critical missing piece.• How connecting forest from 1,700–2,300 meters strengthens protection from Refugio del Tororoi.• Why the Cundinamarca Antpitta is so vulnerable—and what makes unbroken habitat absolutely non-negotiable.• What the first 12–24 months of restoration look like once cattle leave and natural regeneration begins.• The human story: families, birdwatching tourism, and how local livelihoods and conservation win together. • Which species will benefit first from the new connection—and how early ecological “wins” will be tracked.• The spatial tools and datasets Natalia uses to decide where land purchases matter most.• What thresholds, risks, and ecological signals tell conservationists “buy here, not there.” • Current deforestation pressures in the Eastern Andes and where setbacks are most likely.• Why fragmentation remains the Antpitta’s biggest long-term threat. • Which critical data gaps still exist for Andean birds—and how missing information amplifies extinction risk.• How new monitoring tools help close those gaps. • Natalia shares the field moment in the Eastern Andes that changed how she thinks about forest corridors. 📌 Event Hosted By:Dr. Stuart Pimm & Andy Schiffer, Saving NatureIn partnership with Fundación Camaná 🔗 Watch Natalia’s TEDx talk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVBDf0rYYbQ 👍 Subscribe for more conservation stories, science-driven solutions, and on-the-ground wins for biodiversity. THE PROJECT & THE BIRDSCIENCE TO MAPS TO LANDRISKS & PRESSURESDATA, GAPS & TOOLSA FIELD STORY YOU WON’T FORGET

    53 min
  2. 06/12/2025

    A Conversation with Malcolm Kobak on Saving Papua, indigenous leadership, and the Echidna

    In this conversation, Dr. Stuart Pimm and Andy Schiffer speak with Malcolm Kobak, a Papuan-born conservation leader and co-founder of YAPPENDA. Malcolm reflects on his upbringing among the Yali people in the Papuan Highlands and how his family heritage and name shaped his identity. He also shares how twenty-five years in Canadian law enforcement influenced his perspective before returning home to help build an Indigenous-led conservation organization. The discussion explores how YAPPENDA works with communities to secure land rights and support the protection of more than one million hectares of rainforest. Malcolm describes the connection between culture, land tenure, and forest stewardship in Tanah Papua and offers stories from YAPPENDA’s restoration sites, where nearly 10,000 trees were planted in 2024, including more than 3,000 mangroves. A major focus is the rediscovery of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna in the Cyclops Mountains. Malcolm explains how the expedition was developed, the importance of trust with Indigenous landowners, and what this conservation breakthrough means for Papuan communities and for science. Additional topics include education partnerships with UNCEN, UNIPA, and Oxford; efforts to provide elementary and adult conservation training; the integration of Indigenous knowledge with emerging tools such as AI-assisted wildlife monitoring; and the importance of livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and cultural resilience in designing effective conservation programs. Malcolm concludes by sharing his long-term vision for the future of Tanah Papua and what meaningful support from the global community looks like.

    56 min
  3. 03/06/2025

    A Conversation with Dr. Terry Root: Climate Science, Wildlife, and Hope for the Planet

    🌎 Join us for a powerful conversation with Dr. Terry Root, renowned climate scientist, conservation pioneer, and a lead author of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning IPCC reports. Hosted by Andy Schiffer, Director of Marketing at Saving Nature, this event takes us deep into Dr. Root’s journey from a young girl captivated by nature to a global voice for climate action and wildlife conservation.In this wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Root shares:• How her love for nature first took root• Groundbreaking insights on how climate change is transforming ecosystems• Why birds are powerful indicators of global warming• The connection between plastic pollution and climate change• Her experience contributing to the Nobel Peace Prize-winning IPCC report• The alarming risk of mass extinction—and how we can fight back• What gives her hope in the face of these challenges💚 Whether you’re passionate about wildlife, climate solutions, or taking real action, this conversation will leave you inspired to be part of the solution.💥 Want to take action right now? Visit Saving Nature’s website to offset your carbon footprint with our easy-to-use calculator: https://savingnature.com/offset-carbo.... Every ton of carbon you offset helps restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and create a livable future for us all.💬 We’d love to hear from you:🌿 Where are you joining us from today?🌿 What’s one of your favorite places you’ve traveled to—or a dream destination you’d love to visit?#SavingNature #ClimateAction #WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity #ClimateChange #NatureRestoration #HopeForNature #EnvironmentalScience #ProtectBiodiversity #EcoWarrior #GlobalConservation #Rewilding #NobelPeacePrize #ClimateSolutions #BirdsAndClimate #PlasticPollution #OffsetYourCarbonFootprint #NatureLovers #ScienceForChange

    1 hr

About

A podcast born from our live webinar series, featuring conversations with conservationists, scientists, artists, and local leaders working to protect biodiversity and restore nature. From forest corridors to community-led action, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the frontlines of environmental change. Hosted by Andy Schiffer.