ZSL #037 How can we recover nature in our cities: rewilding, reconnecting habitats and restoring rivers

It’s no secret that cities are generally perceived as spaces of little conservation relevance, yet local urban wildlife underpins a range of ecosystem services. In a time where rapid changes in the climate are causing more extreme natural events, wildlife is disappearing and we are becoming more and more disconnected from nature through urbanisation, could the recovery of urban ecosystems be a potential solution for a more resilient planet? In this episode, our host Ellie Darbey will discover how we can recover nature in our cities, with ZSL’s experts in rewilding, reconnecting habitats and river restoration. Does the answer lie in empowering local communities? Or is it in the plight of the hedgehog? And why must we enact the mysterious Schedule Three?  

Guests

Professor Nathalie Pettorelli, Institute of Zoology, ZSL Dr Chris Carbone, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL Joe Pecorelli, Conservation Project Manager, Marine and Freshwater, Conservation & Policy, ZSL

Overview

03:31 – Ellie Darbey introduces the first guest, Professor Nathalie Pettorelli to discuss how to rewild in urban environments 16:39 – Ellie is joined by Dr Chris Carbone to talk about the London Hogwatch Project, and their community engagement 26:59 – Species Spotlight: The European hedgehog! 28:12 – Ellie welcomes the final guest Joe Pecorelli to discuss river restoration in London, and the power of the waterways 37:19 – The guests give their answer for the one thing they’d like to change in policy or legislation to help recover urban nature.

Resources

If there’s a topic you’d like to hear on a future podcast, or if you’d like to share your thoughts on the one change you’d like to see in policy or legislation to help recover nature in cities, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: [email protected]  Check out our science and conservation work at: zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation Living Planet Report: https://www.zsl.org/global-biodiversity-monitoring/indicators-and-assessments-unit/living-planet-index/living-planet Previous Episode mentioned #035 on Nature-based solutions: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-wild-science-podcast Rewilding your cities ZSL report: https://www.zsl.org/science/news/rewilding-our-cities-could-reduce-impacts-of-extreme-weather-says-new-report Rewild my street: https://www.rewildmystreet.org/ London Hogwatch: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/species/mammals/london-hogwatch Pine Marten sighting: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/news/nationally-critically-endangered-pine-marten-spotted-in-london London’s Rivers: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/londons-rivers State of the Thames Report: https://www.zsl.org/natureatheart/the-state-of-the-thames-2021 Volunteer for London’s Rivers: https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/volunteer-for-londons-rivers Flood and Water Management act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/29/contents

Get in touch

Email [email protected] with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes! Tweet us @ZSLScience with the hashtag #ZSLWildScience Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation