Beaver Believers: How to Restore Planet Water

This episode of Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature explores the transformative role of beavers in restoring planetary water systems. Hosted by Neil Harvey, the conversation features Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, who advocate for beavers as keystone species essential to ecological resilience. The episode dismantles long-standing myths about beavers—such as being destructive nuisances—by presenting scientific evidence of their symbiotic relationship with salmon, their ability to mitigate droughts and floods, and their role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement. Through stories from Nevada ranchers, Indigenous tribes, and urban communities embracing beavers, the hosts highlight a growing grassroots movement to coexist with and restore beaver populations across California and beyond. The episode underscores how mimicking beaver engineering through low-cost, non-lethal tools like beaver dam analogs and pond levelers can accelerate ecosystem recovery, especially in the face of climate disruption. It concludes with a call to action for public participation in citizen science and policy advocacy to protect and expand beaver habitats as a nature-based solution to the climate and water crisis.