Save The Bees! (No, Not Those Bees)

Biodiversity is the foundation of a healthy planet — and some of its most important stewards are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. In this episode, we explore the vital role native bees play in California’s ecosystems, the threats facing pollinators and biodiversity, and what it will take to protect and restore the places they call home.

We talk with Krystle Hickman, conservation photographer and community scientist, about the fascinating and often overlooked world of native bees and the intricate relationships they have with the plants and ecosystems around them.

Then we zoom back out with California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot and conservationist Melanie Schlotterbeck to explore California’s 30x30 initiative: the effort to conserve 30% of the state’s lands and waters by 2030. What does it actually mean to protect biodiversity? And how do we make sure conservation works for the species, communities, and ecosystems that depend on these places?

Guests:

• Secretary Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources
• Krystle Hickman, Community Scientist and Native Bee Conservation Photographer
• Melanie Schlotterbeck, Land Use and Conservation Consultant

Featuring music from HAD HAD