Enhancing biodiversity in urban areas is a critical step in improving our ecosystems, resilience against the climate crisis, and ensuring nature exposure for residents. But how do you increase biodiversity on pavement?

According to two researchers, it can start with stepping stones.

Drs. Thami Croeser and Holly Kirk tackled this issue and showed the brilliance of available solutions in their paper Nature-based solutions for urban biodiversity: spatial targeting of retrofits can multiply ecological connectivity benefits.

In short, the researchers showed that converting underutilized parking spaces in urban Australia can improve ecological connectivity – the ability for various species to move across the landscape from one patch of greenspace to another. To share the need for such connectivity changes, how they developed and ran their study, the incredible benefits to both people and ecosystems, and what lessons we can learn, Drs. Thami Croeser and Holly Kirk join Defender Radio.

SHOW NOTES:

Episode art provided by Dr. Thami Croeser

Read the paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204624001683

Dr. Thami Croeser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thami-croeser-822ab9a/

Dr. Holly Kirk's website: https://natureonthebrain.wordpress.com/

The Conversation Article: https://theconversation.com/stepping-stones-for-wildlife-how-linking-up-isolated-habitats-can-help-nature-thrive-in-our-cities-234923

Sound of Mole Crickets via Mostly Nature / YouTube

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

Cold drafts in winter aren’t only unpleasant, they could be costing you money and wasting energy. Listen now to The Switch to hear how to quickly identify and deal with a draft.

SHOW NOTES:

Photo of a door equipped with two types of draft stoppers by AndreyPopov / Getty Images

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

One day at school, 7-year-old animal loving Georgia discovers her best friend is wearing a coat made with mink fur; with the companionship of her dog Tizzy, Georgia and her friend begin to learn about animals that live in fur farms – and that they must stand up for them.

Tizzy and Me: Fifteen Ways to Love A Mink is the lovely chapter book by NML Hazard (also known as Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard), a former veterinarian turned author. Published in late 2024 by Red Deer Press with illustrations by Alice Priestly, Tizzy and Me is a wonderful story for young people and families who want to discuss issues of animal welfare, talking about difficult topics, and making an impact for animals in our lives. To discuss her unique background, what went into writing Tizzy and Me, what she hopes people learn, and some great writing tips, Defender Radio is joined by Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard.

SHOW NOTES:

Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard (NML Hazard): https://www.nmlhazard.com/
Tizzy & Me from Red Deer Press: https://www.reddeerpress.com/Detail/0889957509

Episode art photo of a mink by DanielLacy / Getty Images

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).