Conservation and Science

Welcome back after the unusual break. I didn't send the last newsletter and the podcast episode was delayed by a week. You should be relieved, however, to learn that it wasn't caused by a lack of creative powers or, worse, some kind of "podfade", but instead by entirely positive and somewhat evolving circumstances. The changing of my studio/editing room was not the least of them. You should also be pleased to hear that in this issue of the newsletter, I'm bringing you not one but two episodes of the podcast.

The episodes I'm bringing you today revolve around rewilding, but truly in the vein of bringing you diverse perspectives, these are quite different 'rewildings' and their impact and perception are quite different too. In the latest episode, I talk with filmmaker Tom Opre and associate producer Tony Bynum about their latest film from the 'Killing the Shepherd' series, 'The Real Yellowstone'. The topic of the conflict between people living on the land and a big rewilding organisation planning landscape-scale rewilding is only one of the topics we discuss in the film, and it's one of the core issues.

The second episode today (and the one that missed its scheduled newsletter) is my chat with Jack Morley, whom you might know from his YouTube channel 'The Rewildlife'. In contrast, Jack is doing small-scale 'rewilding' on his farm in Wicklow. So our discussion is less socio-political and more practical in nature (pun not intended - you need to see the podcast in video version 🙂).

The Real Yellowstone

Why is the farming community so opposed to the American Prairie Foundation's rewilding vision? Can ranchers and conservationists find common ground when grizzly bears are eating cattle and wolves are reducing elk herds? What happens when well-meaning conservation efforts clash with rural communities who've worked the land for generations?

To explore these contentious questions, I sit down with filmmaker Tom Opre and associate producer Tony Bynum to discuss their latest documentary, ‘The Real Yellowstone’. Tom returns to the podcast after previous episodes about his films ‘Killing the Shepherd’ and ‘The Last Keeper’, bringing his unique perspective on conservation conflicts around the world. Tony, with his background in resource management and Native American heritage, adds crucial insights into the complex dynamics between land use, science, and policy. Together, they've spent years documenting the realities facing rural communities caught between traditional ways of life and modern conservation initiatives.

Our conversation reveals parallels between the Montana ranching conflicts and the land and wildlife management debates we've seen in Scotland and Africa. We delve into the American Prairie Foundation’s ambitious plan to create a 3 million-acre wildlife preserve, complete with 30,000 bison managed by wolves and grizzly bears. But the reality on the ground tells a more complex story. Local ranchers, some with families who've worked the same land for over a century, feel threatened by outside organisations with deep pockets and different visions for the landscape. We discuss the practical challenges of living with recovering predator populations, from grizzly bears wandering into backyards to wolves reducing elk numbers that support thriving hunting economies. The film, as well as our conversation, doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable truths about modern conservation, including the role of wealthy outsiders driving up land prices and fundamentally changing rural communities.

206: The Real Yellowstone

The Rewildlife

Why are people so opposed to the term "rewilding" when it can inspire action for nature restoration? How can we communicate conservation issues without alienating the very people we need to reach? And what happens when a creative professional decides to transform four fields in Wicklow into a biodiversity haven while documenting every step for others to follow?

In this outdoor episode, we sit down with Jack Morley in his rewilding project in Wicklow to explore these questions and more. Jack brings a fresh perspective to nature communication, drawing on his background in advertising and film to reach audiences beyond the usual conservation choir. He's passionate about positive messaging, believing that doom and gloom narratives only preach to the converted whilst switching off those who could become tomorrow's nature champions. His approach focuses on inspiration rather than education, using enthusiasm and accessible language to engage people who might not even realise they care about Irish wildlife.

Jack's land showcases remarkable habitat diversity across just five acres - from native woodland plantations using both traditional and Miyawaki methods, to wildflower meadows that proved more challenging than expected. He's creating wetlands, managing microhabitats with log piles and standing deadwood, and dealing with the realities of river water quality changes. The conversation reveals the practical challenges of habitat creation, from Yorkshire fog domination in meadows to the ongoing debate about active management versus natural regeneration. Jack's documentation of "Ireland's Nature Heroes" on social media highlights the groundswell of conservation work happening across the country, work that often goes unnoticed but deserves celebration.

205: The Rewildlife with Jack Morley

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