KPFA - Terra Verde

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Terra Verde delivers news and views about the most critical environmental issues across California and globally. From agriculture and wildlife to energy and climate change, industrial pollution to design solutions, Terra Verde brings you stories of struggle and triumph that will determine the future of our planet.

2D AGO

The Fire-Resilient Future (Part II)

Young people will inherit a world in which fire is far more prevalent than it has been for generations before. Yet when it comes to fire management and policy, the most impacted stakeholders — including young people and Indigenous communities — have historically been excluded, with little representation to this day. In the face of increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, a broad coalition of young Indigenous fire practitioners, wildland firefighters, and researchers have come together to reshape the culture of decision-making surrounding fire. Guided by a vision for a future with “good fire,” their work centers Indigenous knowledge and young people in frontline and marginalized communities in order to shift policy; restore Indigenous land stewardship; and heal relationships between fire, land, and people. This week on Terra Verde, Ryan Reed, Ayuthea LaPier, and Kyle Trefny — co-founders of the FireGeneration Collaborative — join host Fiona McLeod to discuss how empowering Indigenous leadership and diverse young generations is critical for a fire resilient future. This is Part Two of this series on fire resilience and stewardship. Listen to Part One at kpfa.org or on the Earth Island Journal podcast page. The post The Fire-Resilient Future (Part II) appeared first on KPFA.

30 min
12/26/2025

The Fire-Resilient Future (Part I)

Young people will inherit a world in which fire is far more prevalent than it has been for generations before. Yet when it comes to fire management and policy, the most impacted stakeholders — including young people and Indigenous communities — have historically been excluded, with little representation to this day. In the face of increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, a broad coalition of young Indigenous fire practitioners, wildland firefighters, and researchers have come together to reshape the culture of decision-making surrounding fire. Guided by a vision for a future with “good fire,” their work centers Indigenous knowledge and young people in frontline and marginalized communities in order to shift policy; restore Indigenous land stewardship; and heal relationships between fire, land, and people. This week on Terra Verde, Ryan Reed, Ayuthea LaPier, and Kyle Trefny — co-founders of the FireGeneration Collaborative — join host Fiona McLeod to discuss how empowering Indigenous leadership and diverse young generations is critical for a fire resilient future. This is Part One of a two-part conversation. Tune in to Terra Verde again next week for Part Two. The post The Fire-Resilient Future (Part I) appeared first on KPFA.

30 min
12/05/2025

Can Fungi Help Heal the Earth?

Across the U.S., there are well over a million contaminated brownfields and superfund sites such as abandoned factories, industrial facilities, and former gas stations where toxic materials have accumulated in the soil. Many of these sites sit polluted for decades because cleanup is expensive and still relies on excavating the soil, hauling it away, and dumping it somewhere else. California alone exports more than half a million tons of contaminated soil every year, much of it to hazardous waste landfills in other states. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Hannah Wilton speaks with environmental toxicologist and mycologist Dr. Danielle Stevenson about nature-based remediation as an alternative to costly “dig and dump” cleanup. Drawing from her research at three highly contaminated brownfields in Los Angeles, Stevenson describes how she works with fungi, plants, and microbes to pull heavy metals from soil, break down petrochemicals, and restore life to polluted sites. Stevenson also discusses her post-fire bioremediation research, where she is using “myco-wattles,” native plantings, and hyperlocal fungal inoculum to rebuild soils in landscapes scorched by the Palisades and Eaton fires. The post Can Fungi Help Heal the Earth? appeared first on KPFA.

30 min
11/28/2025

Terra Verde – November 28, 2025

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – November 28, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

30 min
11/21/2025

Tackling PFAS in California

Popular for their water- and oil-resistant properties, PFAS are found in countless consumer products, including rain gear. Photo by Gabriel Almanzar. Popular for their water and grease resistance, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in countless everyday products, from cookware and cosmetics, to rain gear and cleaning supplies. They are sprayed on crops, added to food packaging, utilized in electronics, and much more. As a result, these substances — which have been linked to serious health impacts and have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment — are now widespread in our water, soil, and air. Several states have begun to take action on the issue. But the road to PFAS regulation has proven challenging, including in the Golden State. Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal managing editor Zoe Loftus-Farren speaks with Andria Ventura, legislative and policy director with Clean Water Action, and Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president for California with the Environmental Working Group, about ongoing efforts to reign in our use of these toxic substances California. The post Tackling PFAS in California appeared first on KPFA.

30 min
11/14/2025

Youth Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Environmental Policy

Youth movements are at the forefront of the fight for a livable future. Around the world, young people are reimagining solutions to urgent environmental challenges and taking bold action to build a more sustainable and just world. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Fiona McLeod is joined by two young environmental leaders — Sophie Tipper and Lily YangLiu — to discuss their work advancing youth representation in environmental policy and decision-making. Lily YangLiu, a 17-year-old from British Columbia, leads initiatives to expand early climate education and increase youth participation in global governance spaces, including the United Nations and international financial institutions. Sophie Tipper, an 18-year-old from Colorado, helped draft and pass a state bill guaranteeing youth representation in environmental justice governance. Both recently received the 2025 Brower Youth Award in recognition of their environmental achievements. Together, they reflect on the power and necessity of youth leadership in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future. The post Youth Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Environmental Policy appeared first on KPFA.

30 min
11/07/2025

A Story of Indigenous Resistance and Renewal from the Klamath River

On this week’s Terra Verde episode, host Hannah Wilton speaks with Amy Bowers Cordalis about her new memoir, The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life. Amy shares stories from the Klamath River and the Yurok homelands, tracing her family’s multigenerational struggle to protect the river, restore the salmon, and defend Indigenous sovereignty. From witnessing the largest fish kill in U.S. history in 2002, to watching the Klamath flow free again after the last dam came down in 2024, Amy reflects on the long arc of loss and healing, and how the river’s restoration offers a model for environmental justice and reconciliation. Amy Bowers Cordalis is a member of the Yurok Tribe, an attorney, fisherwoman, and advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental restoration. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, leading efforts to protect tribal sovereignty, lands, and waters—including the historic Klamath Dam Removal project. Former general counsel for the Yurok Tribe and an attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, Amy has earned honors as a UN Champion of the Earth and Time 100 climate leader. The post A Story of Indigenous Resistance and Renewal from the Klamath River appeared first on KPFA.

30 min
10/31/2025

Terra Verde – October 31, 2025

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – October 31, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

30 min

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Terra Verde delivers news and views about the most critical environmental issues across California and globally. From agriculture and wildlife to energy and climate change, industrial pollution to design solutions, Terra Verde brings you stories of struggle and triumph that will determine the future of our planet.