Dr Enric Sala Nat Geo Explorer-In-Residence (Classic)

In this compelling episode of the All Creatures Podcast, host Chris welcomes Dr. Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and author of the forthcoming book *The Nature of Nature, Why We Need the Wild*. Sala shares his personal journey from marine biology academia to full-time ocean conservation, driven by his realization that he was writing the 'obituary of the ocean'—documenting its decline without offering solutions. His epiphany came during a scuba dive in a protected marine reserve in Catalonia, where he witnessed the ocean's natural abundance, contrasting sharply with the degraded state he experienced as a child. Sala discusses the critical role of foundational species like algae and kelp forests, the devastating impacts of climate change, overfishing, and pollution, and the cascading effects of removing keystone species such as sea otters and sharks. He emphasizes the power of marine protected areas, citing data showing 600% higher fish biomass within reserves and economic benefits for local communities. The conversation also explores the moral imperative to protect nature, the interconnectedness of all life—including humans and microbes—and practical actions listeners can take, such as reducing animal protein consumption. Sala concludes with a call to shift from an anthropocentric worldview to one of humility and stewardship, underscoring that nature’s resilience can restore ecosystems when given space.