Tapirs and night monkeys are two of the estimated three million species of the Amazon rainforest which plays a vital role in stabilising the world’s climate. Dr Pati Medici from Brazil and Dr Angela Maldonado from Colombia are on a mission to ensure these species stick around and play their role in preserving the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Danger abounds as they must share habitat with armed militias, mining, palm oil companies, and more. Ahead of Brazil hosting world leaders for COP30 in Belem this year, Pati and Angela discuss how to save the Amazon. They talk coexistence and coalitions, “tapir heaven” and monkey selfies, with broadcasters and Whitley Fund for Nature Ambassadors, Kate Humble and Tom Heap. The podcast was recorded at a live event at London's Royal Institution.

Special thanks to Edward Whitley

Watch Pati Medici’s Gold Award film, narrated by Sir David Attenborough—a must-see story of conservation in action! Watch now.

Discover Angela Maldonado’s Gold Award-winning journey in this film from 2010. Watch now!

Edited and produced by Sarah Treanor

How to Save It highlights ingenious solutions from the world’s top conservationists. The 2025 Whitley Awards shortlist is here! Meet the inspiring conservationists making a difference.

Click here to donate: bit.ly/WhitleyAwards_Donate

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The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is known for its pristine forests, prioritising wellbeing over economic growth, and being the world's first carbon negative country. In this episode, Kate Humble and Edward Whitley hear from wildlife biologist Kuenzang Dorji on how Buddhism is the cornerstone to conservation in Bhutan. He's restoring harmony between two populations in Bhutan's forests: Gee's Golden Langur monkeys and farmers, many of whom live below the national poverty index and whose crops of oranges, guava and even chilli, the primates have started to raid. Using an arsenal of natural deterrents as well as citizen science, Kuenzang is determined to restore the good fortune once associated with the leaping langur and the harmonious coexistence between people and primates.

See Kuenzang’s short film narrated by Sir David Attenborough here: bit.ly/GoldenLangurMonkeys

Edited and produced by Sarah Treanor

How to Save It highlights ingenious solutions from the world’s leading conservationists. Applications for the Whitley Awards are open! If you are leading a grassroots conservation project in the Global South that we should know about, please apply here: bit.ly/WhitleyAward_ApplyNow

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In the savannah grasslands and forests of Guyana's South Rupununi, the scientific discovery of a little songbird catalysed the creation of the country's first Indigenous-led conservation NGO. Leroy Ignacio was determined to chart a new destiny for the Red Siskin when it was first identified in Guyana in 2000. The finch had been hunted almost to extinction in nearby Venezuela - for the pet trade, historically for its feathers to make hats, and for experiments to produce a red canary. In this episode, Kate Humble and Edward Whitley hear from Leroy, who is Indigenous Makushi, and president and founding member of the South Rupununi Conservation Society. Amid an unprecedented economic boom, Leroy is leading an expansion of the community-managed conservation zone for the Red Siskin and defining a new vision, powered by Indigenous people, for environmental protection.

See Leroy’s short film narrated by Sir David Attenborough here: https://bit.ly/GuyanaRedSiskins

Edited and produced by Sarah Treanor

How to Save It highlights ingenious solutions from the world’s leading conservationists. Applications for the Whitley Awards are open! If you are leading a grassroots conservation project in the Global South that we should know about, please apply here: bit.ly/WhitleyAward_ApplyNow

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.