The naturethrive podcast
The naturethrive podcast
Podcast Description
The naturethrive podcast is here to inspire and connect you with nature, while exploring practical solutions to the environmental and planetary challenges we face.Through engaging conversations with expert guests, we’ll delve into the issues affecting our world in a way that’s accessible and uplifting, not overwhelming. We’ll highlight real stories and experiences that bring hope and optimism, showcasing a wide range of current and future solutions—from large-scale initiatives to everyday actions—that can help ease eco-anxiety and drive positive change.Our guests include farmers, organisations, and solution providers who are making a difference in nature restoration, sharing their journeys and the impactful work they’re doing.Each episode will also feature three recurring questions that explore the first, best, worst, and weirdest moments in nature, giving you an authentic and personal glimpse into the experiences that shape our connection with the natural world.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of nature conservation, sustainability, and climate action, with episodes covering Biodiversity Net Gain, the role of farmers in restoring nature, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems, exemplified by discussions on the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone and personal stories reflecting on nature experiences.
The naturethrive podcast is here to inspire and connect you with nature, while exploring practical solutions to the environmental and planetary challenges we face.
Through engaging conversations with expert guests, we’ll delve into the issues affecting our world in a way that’s accessible and uplifting, not overwhelming. We’ll highlight real stories and experiences that bring hope and optimism, showcasing a wide range of current and future solutions—from large-scale initiatives to everyday actions—that can help ease eco-anxiety and drive positive change.
Our guests include farmers, organisations, and solution providers who are making a difference in nature restoration, sharing their journeys and the impactful work they’re doing.
Each episode will also feature three recurring questions that explore the first, best, worst, and weirdest moments in nature, giving you an authentic and personal glimpse into the experiences that shape our connection with the natural world.
Jonathan Withey hosts a conversation with David Hill CBE, described as a key architect of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), discussing its origin from David’s experience in environmental impact assessment, his push from biodiversity offsetting to mandated BNG, and why voluntary adoption failed. David argues onsite BNG is ineffective and advocates professional, audited offsite habitat banks, noting BNG costs about 0.6% of gross development value and warning that exemptions, environmental delivery plans, and a levy-based Nature Restoration Fund could undermine private investment and market stability. He outlines his new venture, Foundation for Nature, a ratings agency for nature restoration projects using pillars of ecological integrity, financial security, governance, and community benefits. The episode also covers career advice, policy context, and David’s best and worst nature experiences, including concern over declining curlew populations.
00:00 Podcast Welcome and Context
02:10 Finding Hope in Nature
03:13 Meet David Hill and Episode Preview
05:20 Career Beginnings in Ecology
07:38 Breaking Into the Industry Today
08:52 Skills Volunteering and Higher Study
13:27 The Origin of Biodiversity Net Gain
18:43 Politics and the Economics of Nature
22:34 How to Improve BNG Policy
23:35 No Exemptions and Real Costs
24:53 Why Environmental Delivery Plans Worry Him
28:08 Levy Risks and Nature Restoration Fund
28:27 Policy Scares Off Investors
30:37 Why The Levy Fails
32:13 Foundation For Nature Explained
35:18 Corporate Biodiversity Reporting
38:46 Ratings Pillars And Scoring
42:24 Onsite Versus Offsite BNG
45:42 First Nature Memories
47:50 Best Wildlife Encounters
49:37 Curlew Decline And Solutions
52:41 Rewilding And Shifting Baselines
55:41 Wrap Up And Reflections
Disclaimer
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