Podcast Summary
Rewilding the Earth: Rewilding the Earth through individual and organizational efforts, led by people like Chris Tompkins, is crucial to addressing the extinction crisis and ensuring a future for both human and non-human worlds.
Learning from this episode of Planet Hope is that hope for the planet's preservation lies in the hands of individuals and organizations committed to finding solutions. Rolex, through its Perpetual Planet Initiative, supports these explorers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and citizens, encouraging collective action towards rewilding the Earth. Chris Tompkins, a conservation philanthropist, is one such example. She has dedicated her life to rewilding Chile and Argentina, safeguarding over 15 million acres of land, establishing and expanding national parks, and protecting marine life. The most pressing issue in conservation today, according to Chris, is the extinction crisis. By rewilding and giving space back to wildlife, we can help nature heal and ensure a future for both human and non-human worlds.
Impact of human activities on non-human life: Only 4% of the world is left for non-human life due to human activities, inspiring some to prioritize conservation efforts and shift lifestyles to protect large land and marine systems.
Human activities have significantly impacted the natural world, leaving only 4% for non-human life. For those who value all life and believe in its intrinsic worth, this realization forces a reevaluation of actions and priorities. The Tonkins, inspired by this belief, shifted their lives to conserve and protect large land and marine systems, focusing on regions like Chile and Argentina, where they have worked to restore temperate rainforests and Patagonian grasslands, as well as coastal territories teeming with biodiversity. Their love for nature grew gradually, from childhood experiences on a ranch to encounters with the beauty of protected areas, leading them to recognize their place in the web of life.
Young age and environmental concerns: Starting young and having a strong work ethic can lead to a successful career in conservation, while addressing environmental concerns early on is crucial for a sustainable future.
The speaker's career in conservation and founding Patagonia began when she was a teenager and met the company's founder, Ivan Schunard. She started working for him during her summers, eventually leading to her running the company for over two decades. The decision to retire and focus on climate and conservation came in the 1990s, likely driven by a growing awareness and concern for environmental issues. The speaker's story highlights the importance of starting young, having a strong work ethic, and being open to new opportunities. It also underscores the significance of taking action to address pressing environmental concerns.
Starting a business with a cause: Despite facing opposition and criticism due to their foreign status and historical context, Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins persisted in their efforts to buy land in Chile for conservation, ultimately leading to the creation of national parks and the protection of vast temperate rainforests.
Starting and growing a business, whether it's a successful one like Patagonia or a personal journey like that of the speaker, comes with its own unique challenges and pressures. For Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins, their shared passion for preserving land led them to buy vast tracts of land in Chile, but their efforts were met with suspicion and criticism due to their foreign status and the historical context of American involvement in Chile. Despite the challenges, they persisted and learned valuable lessons, ultimately leading to the creation of national parks and the protection of vast temperate rainforests. Their story serves as a reminder that big ideas and initiatives often face opposition, but with determination and a clear vision, one can make a significant impact.
Tompkins Conservation: The Tompkins Conservation has dedicated their lives to protecting and restoring wild beauty and biodiversity through creating national parks, restoring wildlife, and inspiring activism, protecting approximately 15 million acres in Chile and Argentina, and prioritizing local community involvement for long-term protection.
Conservationist Chris Tompkins and her late husband Douglas Tompkins have dedicated their lives to protecting and restoring wild beauty and biodiversity through creating national parks, restoring wildlife, and inspiring activism. They have protected approximately 15 million acres of parklands in Chile and Argentina, and their work focuses on returning land and water back to wildlife and bringing back species that have been extinct for up to 150 years. One of their most ambitious projects is the Weimoldir, a species on the brink of extinction, and they have also brought back jaguars, ocelots, giant anteaters, giant river otters, and macaws in Argentina. They manage the parks until they are donated back to the countries, and they prioritize working with local communities to ensure the long-term protection of the parks and to make conservation an economic driver for these communities. In essence, their goal is not just to create new outcomes for the non-human world, but to find a place for humanity as part of nature and contribute to the overall health and stability of all life.
Rewilding in Chile and Argentina: Successful conservation of Pumas and Jaguars in Chile and Argentina through national parks and reintroduction of captive animals, supported by Tompkins Conservation and Rolex, aims to reconnect the continent for natural expansion and long-term sustainability.
The rewilding efforts in Chile and Argentina, specifically the conservation of Pumas and Jaguars, have seen significant success. With the establishment of national parks and the release of captive animals back into the wild, these predator populations have thrived and are now expanding their territories. The partnership between Tompkins Conservation and Rolex through the Perpetual Planet Initiative has been crucial in supporting these conservation efforts, which aim to not only protect these species within national parks but also reconnect the continent of South America to enable their natural movement and expansion. This relentless commitment to conservation from both parties is a powerful alliance for the future of these iconic animals. Tompkins Conservation, the organization that started it all, continues to support these independent teams and expand their strategies. The transfer of parks to local governments, while challenging, is a crucial step towards long-term sustainability and local ownership of these vital conservation projects.
Natural spaces conservation: Long-term perspective, deep connection with nature, sharing experiences, supporting local groups, and individual actions are crucial for natural spaces conservation.
Preserving and protecting natural spaces requires a long-term perspective and a deep connection with nature. The speakers in this discussion emphasized the importance of sharing these experiences with others to foster a love for the natural world and inspire future generations to continue the conservation efforts. They also encouraged individuals to take action in their own communities by supporting local conservation groups and refusing to abdicate their future by engaging in environmental efforts, no matter how small. The ultimate goal is to create a framework for long-term success in preserving and protecting natural spaces for future generations. To support the work of Conservation International in Chile and Argentina, individuals can directly donate to their rewilding initiatives by searching for them online.
Local conservation actions: Everyone can make a difference in conservation efforts, no matter how small their contribution may seem. Informed actions and speaking up can lead to significant impacts.
Everyone has the power to make a difference in conservation efforts, no matter how small their contribution may seem. Chris Tomkins, a conservation philanthropist, shares his personal journey of getting involved in local conservation issues and encourages listeners to do the same. He emphasizes that everyone has a role to play, and even the smallest actions can lead to significant impacts. Tomkins also emphasizes the importance of striving for greatness and not being afraid to speak up or take action, whether it's on a local or global scale. He believes that being informed and getting involved are essential steps towards earning hope for the future of the natural world. Rolex, through its Perpetual Planet Initiative, supports individuals and organizations working to protect and preserve the natural world, inspiring generational hope for a perpetual planet.