The Great Plains Comeback: Inside America's Largest Rewilding Project with Daniel Kinka, PhD

Описание: When Lewis and Clark traveled the Missouri River in the early 1800s, they encountered bison herds stretching to the horizon, grizzly bears roaming the plains, and wildlife in numbers that seemed endless—but just 100 years later, it was nearly all gone. In this episode, Brooke sits down with Dr. Danny Kinka, Director of Rewilding at American Prairie, to explore the science behind the largest landscape rewilding project in the continental United States. American Prairie is working to restore 5,000 square miles of Montana's Great Plains by restoring keystone species like bison and creating the conditions for wildlife like beaver, prairie dogs, and eventually large carnivores to naturally return and thrive. They discuss why bison grazing is essential to grassland diversity, how prairie dogs are the unsung heroes of the plains, why American Prairie isn't ready for wolves yet but grizzly bears are a different story, the complexities of conservation in working ranch landscapes, community relations, and what you can do to support wildlife restoration wherever you live in the world. This is the science of rewilding, Montana's Great Plains comeback, and the tangible hope happening on the ground right now.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 The Return of Wildness in Central Montana
00:22 Introduction to Rewildology and today’s guest
01:51 Meet Dr. Daniel Kinka: From Psychology to Rewilding
03:17 The Historical Transformation of the Great Plains
07:27 The Ecological Impact of Wildlife Loss
12:12 American Prairie: Mission and Goals
16:53 Rewilding Strategies and Challenges
26:57 The Role of Large Carnivores in Rewilding
33:15 Current Status and Future of American Prairie
35:57 Functional Recovery of the Ecosystem
36:08 Rewilding Progress and Challenges
37:37 Wildlife Restoration and Management
38:07 Community and Economic Impact
40:40 Public Support and Skepticism
50:54 Global Significance of Rewilding
57:08 Personal Reflections and Hope
01:00:38 How to Support Rewilding Efforts
01:07:28 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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