Nature Breaking

Last winter you probably heard about the lack of snow in the western US, and how that might impact everything from ski resorts to farmlands and freshwater supplies. News coverage of this drought most-often invokes impacts on the Colorado River. But there's another system—the Rio Grande—that's facing just as much pressure. Stretching from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, the Rio Grande – or the Rio Bravo as it's known in Mexico – supports millions of people, vast acres of farmland, and diverse ecosystems that support an array of wildlife. But the river has lost roughly 85% of its historic flows due to overuse and a years-long megadrought. And this summer could bring the worst conditions yet thanks to the lack of snowpack in the mountains that feed the river. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we explore why the Rio Grande is running dry—and what that means for communities, wildlife, and the future of water in the region. Host Seth Larson is joined by Enrique Prunes, WWF's Rio Grande Manager and Freshwater Lead Specialist, to break down the crisis and explain what needs to change to secure a brighter future for the river. Links for More Info: Enrique Prunes bio WWF's Rio Grande page WWF's Water Scarcity page Take Action: Pledge to be a Steward for Water Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 1:35 Rio Grande/Rio Bravo 101 4:32 Why the Colorado River gets more attention 6:12 Current state of the Rio Grande 9:25 What's causing the river to dry out? 14:24 How to balance agriculture w/ river health 18:05 US & Mexico sharing water resources 21:22 Solutions to restore the Rio Grande 26:47 What gives Enrique hope for the river? 31:25 Outro

NOTE: This episode was originally released in July 2025. Once nearly wiped out, the plains bison, or buffalo, as they are often called by Native Americans, are returning to the Great Plains — and with them, a powerful story of cultural renewal, ecological restoration, and Indigenous leadership. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF's Heather Dawn Thompson (a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) shares how Native Nations are leading efforts to restore buffalo populations, reclaim food sovereignty, and heal the land. From spiritual connections to practical conservation, this interview explores how buffalo are more than just wildlife — they are relatives, providers, and symbols of resilience. Links for More Info: Heather Dawn Thompson bio Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration WWF's Plains Bison page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 1:13 Intro 2:57 Heather Dawn's background and role at WWF 8:45 History of buffalo and connection with Native Nations 11:19 Role of Heather Dawn's family in conserving buffalo 13:44 What's it like to see a buffalo in real life? 15:18 Buffalo harvest story 16:47 Connection between buffalo and healthy grasslands 21:05 Buffalo and food sovereignty for Native Nations 24:07 Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration 29:20 Biggest challenges to buffalo restoration

When you think of endangered species, chances are the giant panda comes to mind. With their black‑and‑white coats, bamboo obsession, and internet‑famous antics, pandas are among the most beloved animals on Earth—and they're also one of conservation's most hopeful success stories. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we're diving into the surprisingly weird and wonderful world of giant pandas with Colby Loucks, Vice President and Deputy Lead of WWF's Wildlife Program. Together, we unpack what makes pandas so unique—from their "fake thumb" and bamboo‑only diet to their solitary lifestyles and playful personalities. But this isn't just about adorable panda videos. We also talk about how decades of conservation work helped giant pandas rebound from the brink of extinction, why they were reclassified from endangered to vulnerable, and what their recovery teaches us about protecting other species. Along the way, Colby shares firsthand stories from the field—including what it's really like trying (and failing) to spot a panda in the wild. Links for More Info: Colby Loucks bio WWF Giant Panda page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 2:00 Giant Pandas 101 4:56 Why do pandas play? 7:56 How giant pandas became a conservation success story 12:28 Colby's story about tracking a panda in the wild 15:37 Outro

This week on Nature Breaking, we're teaming up with conservationist and content creator Maya Higa to kick off WWF's annual Give an Hour for Earth campaign. Maya is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber whose online community contributed tens of thousands of hours to our campaign last year. Host Seth Larson interviews Maya about her journey from growing up on a farm to becoming a zookeeper, falconer, livestreamer, and founder of Alveus Sanctuary – a wildlife rehabilitation facility. She explains how digital platforms can be powerful tools for environmental education, what she's learned about inspiring young audiences, and why she believes small, everyday actions—done by many—can drive massive change. Maya and Seth also break down their top recommendations for this year's Give an Hour for Earth activities, from simple trash cleanups to thoughtful grocery shopping, wildlife rehabilitation volunteering, and even livestream fundraising for conservation. Whether you're looking for hands‑on ways to help the planet or a dose of hope in the face of big environmental challenges, this episode is full of inspiration. Links for More Info: TAKE ACTION: Give an Hour for Earth Maya Higa Alveus Sanctuary Maya's trash cleanup vlog Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:35 Intro 2:21 Maya's origin story 7:26 Maya's Tiny Mic video series and "hiding the broccoli" 9:54 The Alveus Sanctuary's mission 11:37 Give an Hour for Earth: Maya's trash cleanup experience 14:35 How small actions make a big difference 15:35 Maya and Seth's Top 3 Actions for Earth 22:16 Outro

Right now we're at the height of awards season, when artists across a variety of disciplines get awarded for the best achievements in their respective industries. In the spirit of that season, we decided to hand out some awards of our own this week. This episode features the first-ever Nature Breaking Awards. It's just like your favorite awards show, but for conservation instead of music or movies. Co-hosts Seth Larson and Hayley Lawton will run through fun categories like "Best Ecosystem Soundtrack" and "Wildest Wardrobe," discuss the nominees, and hand out some (largely arbitrary) awards. Because after all, we're all winners when it comes to saving the planet. Subscribe to WWF's YouTube page Find Nature Breaking on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:19 Intro 1:33 Explaining the Nature Breaking Awards 3:05 Standout Support Species 5:03 Outstanding Wildlife Effects 6:38 Best Ecosystem Soundtrack 8:52 Wildest Wardrobe 10:08 Outstanding Ecosystem 11:37 Reactions to the winners 12:58 Outro

Did you know that extreme weather disasters in the U.S. are now causing more than 20 billion‑dollar events every year, leaving a growing share of those losses uninsured? As climate change accelerates—and as ecosystems like wetlands and forests are destroyed and degraded—the insurance protection gap is widening, putting households, businesses, and entire communities at rising financial risk. In this episode of Nature Breaking, you'll hear from David Kuhn, WWF's Director for Adaptation and Resilience Partnerships and a contributor to a new WWF report on the insurance crisis. David explains what's driving the surge in uninsured losses, why premiums are skyrocketing, and how climate‑driven disasters are undermining the stability of the US insurance system. He also breaks down how nature loss is stripping communities of their "first line of defense" against floods, storms, and heat—and why restoring ecosystems may be one of the most cost‑effective ways to strengthen resilience and shore up the insurance system. As David shares, there's reason for hope in spite of these alarming trends. With smart policies, better risk modeling, and investments that treat nature as essential infrastructure, we can reduce damages, lower costs, and build a safer, more resilient future. Links for More Info: David Kuhn bio REPORT: Tackling the Insurance Protection Gap Op-Ed: Nature is a powerful ally against fires and floods (LA Times) Chapters: 0:00 Teaser 0:31 Intro 1:56 Explaining the insurance protection gap 6:47 Insurance becoming an unsustainable business model 10:23 Practical impacts of insurance gap on consumers 15:23 Role of nature loss in the insurance crisis 19:16 How nature can help mitigate the insurance crisis 21:32 Recommendations for policymakers, insurers, companies, etc. 25:50 Reasons for hope 30:00 Outro

Did you know that 75% of the infrastructure the world will use in 2050 hasn't been built yet? That means the choices we make today—about roads, bridges, railways, ports, and power systems—will shape the future of both human development and the natural world. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF's Ryan Bartlett, Director for Climate Resilience and Risk Management, explains how we can build the infrastructure we need without destroying the ecosystems we rely on for critical benefits, including resilience to worsening weather extremes. From habitat fragmentation to increased flooding, poorly planned infrastructure can unintentionally cause huge environmental and social problems. But with the right planning tools, safeguards, and nature-based solutions that treat nature as infrastructure, we can chart a very different path forward. Links for More Info: Ryan Bartlett bio WWF Sustainable Infrastructure page Sustainable Infrastructure Program in Asia Greening Transportation Infrastructure Development (GRID) Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:26 Intro 1:38 Challenges and opportunities with infrastructure development 4:37 Unintended consequences from poorly planned infrastructure 8:05 Best practices to balance infrastructure with nature & climate concerns 10:58 Solutions for infrastructure bisecting wildlife habitat 15:20 Asia as a key region for sustainable infrastructure 18:30 Sustainable Infrastructure Program in Asia (SIPA) 28:53 Lessons learned from SIPA 31:07 Greening Transportation Infrastructure Development (GRID) program 34:32 What does success look like for advancing sustainable infrastructure development? 37:39 Outro

Note: This episode originally ran on October 1, 2024. If you'd like to support WWF for Giving Tuesday, visit wwf.help/tuesday. Global food production is a key driver behind both climate change and the loss of species and ecosystems. In fact, it's responsible for roughly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and over two-thirds of global habitat and biodiversity losses. That's because unsustainable food production too often lead to the destruction of forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems in order to produce more food. So how do we create a more sustainable food system? Joining the show today is Dr. Jason Clay, Executive Director of WWF's Markets Institute. Jason has decades of experience working with companies to find innovative ways to make their supply chains more sustainable, and today he'll be explaining his latest initiative: Codex Planetarius. In short, Codex Planetarius aims to establish global environmental standards to limit the harm caused by the production of globally traded food. The idea draws inspiration from Codex Alimentarius, the international code of health and safety standards for food established in the mid-20th century. It makes sense: If the world can adopt standards to protect human health and safety, why can't we do the same for the health and safety of the planet? In this interview, Jason explains how his career journey evolved from human rights to conservation (with help from the Grateful Dead and Ben & Jerry's along the way), and how Codex Planetarius could establish new global norms for food production that help us feed the world without destroying it. Links for More Info: Jason Clay bio Codex Planetarius homepage WEB STORY: Codex Planetarius: Increasing Global Food Sustainability and Resilience Chapters: 0:00 Programming note 1:22 Intro 3:10 Jason's background 5:14 Working with the Grateful Dead and Ben & Jerry's to save the rainforest 10:14 How the global food trade works 16:17 Codex Planetarius: global standards for sustainable food production 25:09 Paying for Codex Planetarius 30:57 How to implement the plan 41:52 Outro

At COP30 in Brazil, one of the most ambitious climate finance initiatives ever conceived is set to launch: the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF). This bold plan aims to flip the economics of deforestation by paying countries to keep their forests standing—rather than rewarding them for cutting them down. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF's Andrew Deutz joins host Seth Larson to break down how the TFFF works, why Brazil's $1 billion commitment is a game-changer, and what makes this model so innovative. From leveraging private finance to guaranteeing benefits for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the TFFF could reshape global forest conservation—and climate finance as we know it. Tune in to learn why COP30 is the "make-or-break" moment for the TFFF, how the facility plans to mobilize $125 billion in capital, and what this means for tropical forest countries and the fight against climate change. Links for More Info: Andrew Deutz bio Op-Ed: Finance has long failed forests - now it may save them Press Release: WWF calls for investments in the TFFF following Brazil's catalytic announcement Chapters: 0:00 Wild Guess trivia question 0:43 Intro 2:07 What is the TFFF? 4:22 TFFF development process 6:11 Benefits for Indigenous Peoples 10:11 COP30 expectations and next steps 14:12 How would the TFFF work in practice? 19:01 Brazil's leadership 21:57 What's in it for the private sector? 26:02 Response to TFFF critiques 31:23 One thing that everyone should know about the TFFF 33:04 Outro

Nearly half of Earth's surface lies beyond the jurisdiction of any single country—and until now, those waters have been largely unregulated. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF's Johan Bergenas joins host Seth Larson to unpack the newly ratified High Seas Treaty and what it means for the future of our ocean. From illegal fishing and environmental degradation to human trafficking and unregulated resource extraction, the high seas have long been a lawless frontier. But with this treaty now in force, countries have a framework to establish marine protected areas, conduct environmental impact assessments, and collaborate on enforcement and conservation. Johan explains how the treaty came together, what it aims to achieve, and why it's a critical step toward meeting global biodiversity goals—like protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. Tune in to learn how this landmark agreement could reshape ocean governance and help safeguard the planet's largest ecosystem. Links for More Info: Johan Bergenas bio WWF Oceans webpage WWF Statement on High Seas Treaty Chapters: 0:00 Wild Guess trivia question 0:36 Intro 1:58 Defining "the high seas" 3:21 Crime on the high seas 5:13 Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing 10:00 The High Seas Treaty 12:13 Marine Protected Areas 16:00 Next steps for the treaty 17:25 Hurdles to implementation 20:28 Why did it take this long to get a treaty? 22:02 Outro

Nature provides countless benefits—from clean air and fresh water to raw materials for homes, medicines, and food. But nature is under threat from pollution, deforestation, poaching, and more. That's why WWF just launched a new campaign with a powerful message: Nature Needs Us Now. In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Sara Thomas, WWF's Senior Director for Marketing and Outreach, to take you behind the scenes of how the campaign came together. Sara shares the creative thinking behind the campaign's 90-second ad, "Marble," and reveals insights from WWF's 2025 Connected by Nature Report, which explores how Americans view their relationship with nature. You'll learn why nature is more than just beautiful landscapes—it's the foundation of our health, economy, and daily lives. And you'll hear what each of us can do to protect the natural systems that sustain us. 🎧 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment to share how nature shows up in your life—and what you're doing to protect it. Links for More Info: Nature Needs Us Now homepage 2025 Connected by Nature report Chapters: 0:00 Wild Guess trivia question – free merch giveaway! 0:23 Intro 1:58 Sara's background 3:09 How kids inspire Sara's and Seth's interest in nature 5:22 Nature Needs Us Now campaign – what is it, and why now? 7:48 "Marble" ad 9:27 Key takeaways from the ad 11:27 Messaging choices & Connected by Nature report 17:00 What actions can people take? 21:30 Outro Credits for "The Blue Marble": Video: © Silverback Films/WWF-UK; © WWF-UK; © Staffan Widstrand/Wild Wonders of China/WWF; © Shutterstock/Nat Sumanatemeya/WWF-UK; © monkeybusinessimages/iStock; © thedronalist/pond5; © StratfordProductions/pond5; © BananaRepublic/pond5; © sekarb/pond5; © Erik Tatevosian/iStock; © molchanovdmitry/iStock; © risingforus/pond5; © chuchart/pond5; © Stockmagical; © Localradio/pond5; © Mycreative/pond5; © uralbear/pond5; © RickRay/pond5; © Shutterstock/WF/WWF; © theundertow.ocean & @diversforclimate/pond5; © Shutterstock/Cinematic Storm Footage/WWF; © Fer Ligabue/WWF-Brazil; © mvtstockshot/pond5; © olegbadak/pond5; © FrozenAntFilms/pond5; © Bellavista/pond5; © SteadyRux/pond5;© KsenyD/pond5; © WWF-US/Zac Shamah and Chris O'Leary Music Composed by Wishlake

Once nearly wiped out, the plains bison, or buffalo, as they are often called by Native Americans, are returning to the Great Plains — and with them, a powerful story of cultural renewal, ecological restoration, and Indigenous leadership. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF's Heather Dawn Thompson (a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) shares how Native Nations are leading efforts to restore buffalo populations, reclaim food sovereignty, and heal the land. From spiritual connections to practical conservation, this interview explores how buffalo are more than just wildlife — they are relatives, providers, and symbols of resilience. Learn about the Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration, the role of buffalo in grassland ecosystems, and how communities are working together to bring these iconic animals home. 🎧 Listen in and be inspired by a story that's still unfolding — one rooted in tradition, science, and hope. Links for More Info: Heather Dawn Thompson bio Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration WWF's Plains Bison page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:26 Intro 2:10 Heather Dawn's background and role at WWF 7:58 History of buffalo and connection with Native Nations 10:07 Role of Heather Dawn's family in conserving buffalo 13:00 What's it like to see a buffalo in real life? 14:30 Buffalo harvest story 16:00 Connection between buffalo and healthy grasslands 20:16 Buffalo and food sovereignty for Native Nations 23:19 Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration 28:30 Biggest challenges to buffalo restoration