Driven by Nature

PART TWO:In this episode(s), we’re thrilled to be joined by Dr. Rosie Willacy, a invasive species ecologist based in Tasmania. Rosie has spent years dedicating her research and work to the understanding the ecosystems on Christmas Island and developing decision making frameworks for managing invasive species. Yanti and I were stoked to be in the same place at the same time, and absolutely loved getting deep into this topic with Rosie together. We enjoyed the chat so much we had to split it into two! Enjoy!

Peter Stronach has spent his life in local, grassroots conservation, and is now CEO of Landcare Tasmania. For the past 30 years he has been based in Tasmania, and coincidentally, Landcare Tasmania is also celebrating its 30th birthday this year. In this conversation Pete shares his reflections on three decades of experience in community-based conservation in Tassie. We discuss how valuable it is to empower local people, with networks growing from local communities and local patches, to catchments, to the island scale. This episode was produced by Yanti on muwinina land. Music was produced by Daniel Kowald.

Rosie Fuggle is a microbial ecologist at the University of Sydney. She started her research career questioning why seagrass transplantations around the world were failing - what were we overlooking? Could it be to do with microorganisms in the sediment? This research led her to ask broader questions about resilience in microbial communities. In this conversation she introduces us to the vast world of micro-organisms and the ways in which they challenge and affirm traditional ecological theory. Follow Rosie's research here. This episode was recorded on the land of the Muwinina people. Produced by Yanti, music by Dan Kowald.

Ella Roles is a keen bird watcher who is passionate about sharing experiences of the natural world with others through guiding and events. She is the coordinator for this year’s Bruny Island Bird Festival, held in March, which brings together science, conservation, community and creativity on the little island of the east coast of Tasmania. We explore the many facets of the role she takes facilitating people’s experiences in the natural world, and are introduced to some of the incredible birds of lutruwita/Tasmania. The Bruny Island Bird Festival will run from the 15th - 17th of March 2024. Shoutout to Daniel Kowald for the intro music and the Bellendena Small Grants Scheme for their support.

Short tailed shearwaters, eastern quolls, tawny frogmouths, galahs and noisy minors - you name a Tasmanian native species and Evie has probably given one a few stitches or a drop of medicine. Evie is a wildlife vet who grew up nipaluna Hobart. After moving to naarm Melbourne to study veterinary  science, and practicing there on horses and farm animals for some years,  she is now back on the little island working with our wonderful native  creatures. At Bonorong wildlife sanctuary Evie cares for animals which  have been hurt due to contact with humans and our infrastructure,  helping many of them find their way back to the wild. Evie is also a  sculptor, putting her intimate knowledge of native animals into her  creations.  Evie Silver sculpture on insta Evie Silver sculpture on facebook This  podcast was recorded on the land of the muwinina people. We pay our  respects to palawa/ pakana elders past present and emerging, and their  care for country and community. We invite you to take a moment to think  of the people on whose land you are listening from. 

lutruwita / Tasmania is home to the tallest flowering trees in the world, growing in her vast but diminishing old growth forests. Dr Jen Sanger shares her love of these places and tells us about their enormous capability to capture and store carbon. We hear some mind blowing figures, discuss exciting alternatives and delve into the murky world of bias in science. Jen environmental scientist, tree climber, activist and science communicator. She has a PhD in epiphytic plants, co-runs The Tree Projects, a not-for profit that raises awareness about the value of trees and she is also a member of the independent science council of Tasmania and the Tasmania Climate Collective. Jen is also an artist and her political stickers have branded the bumpers of thousands of cars across Tasmania. Of the many cool things we could have talked to Jen about, our interview focuses on her recent research into the carbon emissions produced by the Tasmanian native forestry industry. We couldn’t have picked a more badass woman for our first interview and we hope you enjoy it. The Tree Projects Tasmania's Forest Carbon: From Emissions Disaster to Climate Solution Jen's Instagram