Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Tommy Serafinski

The paper that we discuss in this episode describes how an invasive species of ants disrupts lion hunting behaviour. There are also acacia trees, elephants, zebras and buffalos involved in the whole chain of interactions between species. To talk about this incredibly interesting research I invited an Associate Professor, Adam Ford, Canada Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, Canada who has a lab of graduate and undergraduate students who work on large mammal ecology. As for the paper that we will discuss today, it was led by Douglas N. Kamaru, a PhD student at the University of Wyoming, in the Goheen lab (Professor Jake Goheen). The other leads are Todd M. Palmer, University of Florida and Corinna Riginos, University of Wyoming. To see the full list of contributors (a total of 20 scientists) I refer you to the paper, which is linked below.
As always, you will get more links and articles to dive even deeper into topics we discuss on the podcast in my newsletter. So make sure you subscribe to not miss out on any nerdy, ecological goodness.
Further reading:
Invasive ants leave lions scrambling for prey on the savannah in an ecological chain reaction | Popular ScienceDisruption of an ant-plant mutualism shapes interactions between lions and their primary prey | ScienceTiny ant species disrupts lion's hunting behavior | ScienceDaily
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Finnish SOTKA is a large-scale habitat restoration project and a part of a larger Helmi Habitats Programme aimed at restoring Finland’s biodiversity. It is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment. SOTKA’s objective is large-scale habitat restoration through wetlands rehabilitation, restoration of mires and catchments, non-native (i.e. invasive) predator control and building a network of resting areas for waterfowl.
It is also a great example of cooperation between hunting and non-hunting organisations for the benefit of nature. This type of cooperation is something I’ve always been a strong advocate of. So it was my great pleasure to invite to the podcast: Veli-Matti Pekkarinen, the Waterfowl Habitat Specialist from the Finnish Hunters’ Association and Heikki Helle, the Wetland Specialist at BirdLife Finland.
Listen to our conversation to learn more about SOTKA and Helmi projects. We also discuss the details of cooperation and specific actions that are undertaken to meet project objectives. I also enquired about the social perception in Finland of actions like predator control. Overall it was interesting to compare mindsets and attitudes in Finland with those in Ireland or the UK. Also, big shoutouts to Padraig Breen from NARGC who was instrumental in making this podcast episode happen.
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Many people claim they are conservationists. But are they really? Inspired by your comments and some discussions that I had in the past, I decided to talk about this subject.
This episode was recorded outdoors, on the beautiful Irish coast of county Kerry. So, don’t be surprised to hear chough calling in the background or some occasional gusts of wind.
It is another in the series of solo episodes that I’m going to publish this year. In those I present the views that I have developed after many years of making this podcast which include not only conversations with experts but also attendance at conferences and reading countless books on these subjects. You can treat those as bonus episodes. The episodes where I interview scientists, conservationists and people with a love for nature and the outdoors are still coming on a fortnightly schedule.
If you’re interested in hearing more from me, have a suggestion for future episodes or want to leave feedback, please contact me through the contact form. If you’re an event organiser and would like me to speak at your event, go and check out the following link.
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I have been waiting for Tom Opre’s new film “The Last Keeper” since I learned in July 2022 that he and his team are working on it. Well, the wait was over for me at the beginning of February 2024, as I was the only person in Ireland to screen the film. The wait will soon be over for you as well since the film premieres in mid-April in Edinburgh. While you are still waiting, you can listen to my conversation with Tom about the film and wider aspects of Tom’s mission of talking about conservation and indigenous communities.
The Last Keeper is a documentary film that takes on the difficult subject of conflict surrounding land use in Scotland. It does a great job of presenting the views from all sides of the struggle. From estate owners, keepers and members of local communities to environmental NGOs, politicians and proponents of rewilding. On top of that, the conversations presented are not just dry statements of opinion. Tom is not shying away from asking difficult questions and pushing his interviewees outside their comfort zone. All that is complemented by brilliant cinematography showcasing stunning views of Scottish landscapes.
As this episode drops before the premiere of the film, we are careful to not spill the beans too much during our conversation. Instead, Tom gives you an insight into what drives him to do all his work and how it connects to the topic of his latest film. I fully expect a full range of opinions about the film and the views it presents. It will likely justify a follow-up episode with reactions to the film from those who are facing the issues presented or are just interested in them. For now, enjoy our conversation and don’t forget to subscribe to The Last Keeper newsletter to see the film’s trailer and stay updated about the film’s screening dates and the latest news about it.
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This episode is slightly different than usual when it comes to its subject. However, working with technology by day and creating digital content by night, I spend substantial time thinking about and grappling with this subject. So when I learned that a long-term supporter and a friend of the podcast, Emanuel Rose, wrote a book about it, I decided to have him on for a chat.
The subject in question is our unhealthy addiction to our phones (mostly) and other devices. Which in the not-so-long term results in a shortened attention span, inability to focus and all-around decrease in happiness and increase in anxiety. And that is not a good state of mind.
In his book, “The 7 Principles of the Magic Rock: How Solitude in Nature Anchors Your Mental Health” Emanuel Rose suggests that unplugging and spending more time in nature is a perfect antidote to the aforementioned predicaments. In his succinct book, the author provides plenty of practical advice. It is rounded out with plentiful references to articles and peer-reviewed papers.
Get "The 7 Principles of the Magic Rock": https://amzn.to/49ESu59
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It has been a considerable time since the last time we spoke about rewilding on the podcast. I feel that the discussion around the practice as well as understanding of the term has moved on in the last three to four years. So, I decided to get an update on the state of rewilding. To do so, I invited the Director of the Wildland Research Institute at the School of Geography, University of Leeds, Dr Steve Carver who is also a Professor of Rewilding and Wilderness Science. Nothing like getting an update about rewilding from the professor of rewilding!
I was curious whether the meaning and understanding of the term rewilding is any more clear than it used to be. We also revisited some of the classic discussion points around rewilding like: “You want to take us back in time” or “It’s an anti-rural movement” to see if the discourse has developed in any way. And if you’re expecting blindly pro-rewilding answers you might be in for a surprise!
Further reading:
Guiding principles for rewilding
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