Inside Biodiversity

Guest: Taylor Dotson How can conservation succeed in a polarised society? This episode features Taylor Dotson, a Science and Technology Studies scholar and an associate professor at New Mexico Tech. Together with podcast host Dr. Volker Hahn, Dotson discusses his new book, “Conservation by the people – The Future of Biodiversity in a Divided World”. In it, Dotson describes “fanatical confrontations over nature”, and he explores ways of resolving environmental disputes productively and democratically. How can we better understand those who oppose conservation policies? How do we prevent biodiversity policy from becoming as polarising as climate change? How can incremental change through trial and error help us achieve what Dotson calls “biodiversity democracy”? Related links: Taylor Dotson at New Mexico Tech: https://www.nmt.edu/academics/class/faculty/tdotson.php Taylor Dotson on Substack: https://tamingcomplexity.substack.com/ Taylor Dotson’s latest book “Conservation by the people – The Future of Biodiversity in a Divided World”: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262052092/conservation-by-the-people/ Taylor Dotson’s second book “The Divide – How Fanatical Certitude is Destroying Democracy”: https://www.taylorcdotson.com/the-divide.html

Guest: Katrin Böhning-Gaese In this episode, Professor Katrin Böhning-Gaese, scientific director of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, and podcast host Dr. Volker Hahn discuss the Planetary Boundaries framework, focusing not only on the science but also considering the value of this framework for communication. Other questions at the heart of this episode are: Where has communication on climate and biodiversity gone wrong? Is there a tendency to exaggerate risks and understate progress? What are the consequences of catastrophizing rhetoric for mental health and people’s readiness to act? What can biodiversity communication learn from climate communication, and vice versa? Most importantly, how can researchers and the media do better? Related links: Katrin Böhning-Gaese on the UFZ website: https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=51666 The Planetary Boundaries Framework and its control variables discussed in this podcast (HANPP, industrial nitrogen fixation, among others): https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adh2458 “Global Catastrophic Risks 2026”, “Ecological Collapse” section, cited in this episode: https://globalchallenges.org//app/uploads/2025/12/GCF-Risk-report-2026-Risk-2-.pdf

Guest: Miguel Bastos Araújo In this episode of Inside Biodiversity, Volker Hahn speaks with iDiv's sabbatical guest Miguel Bastos Araújo (Spanish Research Council at the National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid), one of the leading experts on species distributions and climate change. Araújo explains how species are shifting their ranges due to climate change, why some traditional protected areas are reaching their limits, and how conservation policy should adapt to a changing climate. The conversation explores how scientific evidence can inform policy and why effective conservation requires navigating multiple, often competing, rationalities. A thought-provoking episode on climate change, biodiversity, and the science-policy interface. Related links: Miguel Bastos Araújo’s website: https://www.maraujolab.eu/people/miguel-bastos-araujo/# Towards a climate-resilient conservation network in Portugal. Araújo’s Biological Conservation paper mentioned in this episode: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320725002861 Conflicting rationalities limit the uptake of spatial conservation prioritizations. Araújo’s comment in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, mentioned in this episode: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00042-z Host: Dr. Volker Hahn, Head of iDiv’s Impact Department Postproduction: Leven Wortmann

Marten Scheffer, a Professor at Wageningen University & Research and an expert in aquatic ecology, discusses critical transitions and tipping points in ecosystems. He explains how local shifts, like those in coral reefs and tropical rainforests, relate to broader planetary boundaries. Scheffer emphasizes the importance of understanding uncertainty in these transitions, alongside their implications for policy. He also explores the potential for positive societal changes, presenting insights from his new book on navigating tipping points and recoveries.

Helmut Hillebrand, a professor and director focused on marine biodiversity, dives into the intricate world of ecological tipping points. He reveals the challenges in predicting these thresholds, highlighting how abrupt changes can destabilize ecosystems. Hillebrand critiques the concept of 'safe operating spaces,' warning they might overlook gradual losses that accumulate below seemingly safe limits. He emphasizes that biodiversity operates in complex ways, urging a shift in how we understand and value the resilience of our planet.

Marten Winter, an invasion biologist at iDiv and Leipzig University, is our guest. He dives into the complexities of non-native and invasive species, explaining why some, like raccoons in Europe, pose unique management challenges. The discussion touches on ethical dilemmas surrounding species control, especially in places like Australia. Marten also highlights the vulnerability of islands to invasions and emphasizes that not all non-natives are harmful. He urges awareness of our ecological footprint and practical steps to mitigate species spread.

Emma Marris, a science writer known for her work on biodiversity and conservation, dives into thought-provoking topics. She critiques the concept of 'wilderness' and suggests valuing ecosystem autonomy instead. Exploring the idea of ecosystem integrity, she argues it often masks desires for an idealized natural state. Marris emphasizes the need for a transparent approach to conservation goals shaped by human values. She challenges the perception of introduced species and advocates a nuanced understanding of ecological change, positing that not all shifts in biodiversity signify loss.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Susanne Fritz, a research group head at iDiv and expert in mammal and bird evolution, explores the drastic shifts in biodiversity over millions of years. She delves into the mystery of why large mammals like mammoths vanished during the last ice age and highlights the lasting impacts of climate change and human activity on today's ecosystems. Susanne also shares her thoughts on our current biodiversity crisis and the potential for future recovery, emphasizing the lessons we can learn from evolutionary history.

Henrique Pereira, a research group leader at iDiv and professor at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, shares insights on biodiversity change. He highlights alarming trends, like the decline of common North American birds, while celebrating successful recoveries due to effective environmental policies. Discussing the complexities of measuring biodiversity, he critiques oversimplified approaches and underscores the importance of stakeholder involvement in policymaking. Ultimately, Pereira encourages a balanced narrative that blends doom with hope in biodiversity conversations.

In this intriguing discussion, Jonathan Chase, head of the biodiversity synthesis research group at iDiv, dives into the paradoxes of biodiversity loss. He explores surprising findings, such as how some disturbances can actually increase species counts. Chase elaborates on the complexities of measuring biodiversity, emphasizing that it's not simply about counting species. He also highlights the nuance in language and ethical considerations when discussing biodiversity change, urging a deeper reflection on what we value in nature.