Biodiversity provides everything we rely on—food, clean water, medicine, and a livable environment. But human activities have damaged 66% of marine areas and 75% of land ecosystems, upsetting the balance we need to survive.  

 What can we do to protect biodiversity for the future?  

Enric Sala, Head of National Geographic Pristine Seas Expeditions 

The 30 by 30 global initiative seeks to protect 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. However, only 8% of the world’s oceans are currently under some form of protection.  For nearly two decades, Enric Sala has been a leading advocate for ocean conservation.  Mike speaks with him about the challenges and strategies needed to achieve this ambitious goal. Sala holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Barcelona and a PhD in ecology from Aix-Marseille University, France.   

He is a National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Executive Director of the Pristine Seas Expedition.  

Fernando Trujillo, National Geographic Explorer of the Year and the pink dolphins of the Amazon. 

River dolphins are essential indicators of the health of the rivers they live in- the same waterways that are the lifeline of bustling economies and millions of inhabitants around it.   Fernando Trujillo, National Geographic Explorer of the Year, has been studying the Amazon’s pink river dolphin and helping protect it for years. 

Russ Mittermeier, erudite, explorer and conservationist.  

The world’s biodiversity is rapidly declining, posing a serious threat to our own survival.  Mike speaks with Russel Mittermeier from Re:wild, who has dedicated his life to highlighting the importance of preserving nature’s hotspots. Mittermeier is Chief Conservation Officer of Re: wild. He specializes in primatology, biodiversity and conservation. He formerly served as President of Conservation International from 1989 to 2014, then Executive Vice-chair from 2014 to 2017. He specializes in the fields of primatology, herpetology, biodiversity and conservation of tropical forests. He has undertaken research in more than 30 countries, and his writing includes 36 books and more than 700 publications.