As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, there's no shortage of reflection about the landscapes, history, and ideals that have shaped this country. For many people, iconic American landscapes might include mountains, forests, or coastlines. But there's another ecosystem—vast, vital, and often overlooked—that's quietly disappearing: grasslands. You might know grasslands by other names: prairies, plains, or savannas. Regardless of the name, grasslands matter more than you might think. They filter and supply clean water, store carbon, sustain rural communities and economies, and support iconic wildlife like bison, black-footed ferrets, and birds. But roughly 70% of America's grasslands have already been lost. And even worse, not enough people seem to notice: A recent WWF survey found that nearly half of Americans are unfamiliar with grasslands. So why are grasslands disappearing—and what can be done to protect what's left? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Martha Kauffman, WWF's Vice President for the Great Plains, to break down the science, history, and future of one of America's most important ecosystems. Links for More Info: Martha Kauffman bio WWF Grasslands Survey Grasslanders Campaign TAKE ACTION: The Indian Buffalo Management Act Chapters: 00:00 Teaser 00:35 Intro 02:22 Martha's passion for grasslands 05:41 Why should grasslands matter to all of us? 10:33 Current status of US grasslands 13:47 How to keep grasslands intact 24:23 Role of Indigenous Communities 26:26 Martha reflects on 20 years at WWF 28:44 Conserving US grasslands for the next 250 years 30:31 Outro

*Bonus Episode Today's episode is a feed swap courtesy of Reframing Rural, an award-winning documentary show that explores the people, history, and culture of rural America. The episode, "From Sand to Soil," was included in Season 4 of Reframing Rural, which focused on the challenges that farm and ranch families face as they pass their operations from one generation to the next. Today you'll hear about the Bruski family, a ranching family in Montana that made a bold decision to rethink how their land is managed as part of their succession process. They did so with support from WWF's Ranch Systems and Viability Planning (RSVP) program, which helps support ranchers in meeting their sustainable management goals while strengthening the long-term viability of their operations. You don't need to be a farmer or rancher to connect with this story. It's about family, change, and building something better for the future. Our thanks to Reframing Rural for sharing it with us.  Links for More Info: Reframing Rural WWF's RSVP Program

Last winter you probably heard about the lack of snow in the western US, and how that might impact everything from ski resorts to farmlands and freshwater supplies. News coverage of this drought most-often invokes impacts on the Colorado River. But there's another system—the Rio Grande—that's facing just as much pressure. Stretching from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, the Rio Grande – or the Rio Bravo as it's known in Mexico – supports millions of people, vast acres of farmland, and diverse ecosystems that support an array of wildlife. But the river has lost roughly 85% of its historic flows due to overuse and a years-long megadrought. And this summer could bring the worst conditions yet thanks to the lack of snowpack in the mountains that feed the river. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we explore why the Rio Grande is running dry—and what that means for communities, wildlife, and the future of water in the region. Host Seth Larson is joined by Enrique Prunes, WWF's Rio Grande Manager and Freshwater Lead Specialist, to break down the crisis and explain what needs to change to secure a brighter future for the river. Links for More Info: Enrique Prunes bio WWF's Rio Grande page WWF's Water Scarcity page Take Action: Pledge to be a Steward for Water Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 1:35 Rio Grande/Rio Bravo 101 4:32 Why the Colorado River gets more attention 6:12 Current state of the Rio Grande 9:25 What's causing the river to dry out? 14:24 How to balance agriculture w/ river health 18:05 US & Mexico sharing water resources 21:22 Solutions to restore the Rio Grande 26:47 What gives Enrique hope for the river? 31:25 Outro

Seafood is one of the most important food systems on the planet—supporting livelihoods, feeding communities, and fueling a global industry. But it's also under growing pressure. Overfishing, climate change, and illegal fishing are putting many marine ecosystems at risk. So how can we meet global demand for seafood without pushing our oceans past their limits? And what role should companies play in building healthier, more resilient oceans? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson speaks with Dr. Sarah Glaser, head of the Blue Foods program and Oceans Futures platform at WWF, and Andrew Russell, Global Marine Sustainability Lead at Mars. They discuss the challenges—and opportunities—of making seafood more sustainable. And they explore how a long‑standing partnership between WWF and Mars is working to improve sourcing practices, increase transparency across complex supply chains, and support healthier fisheries over the long term. Links for More Info: Dr. Sarah Glaser bio Andrew Russell bio Mars & WWF – Protecting Ocean Ecosystems Chile Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:32 Intro 2:09 Defining "sustainable seafood" 6:02 Are we too late to save certain fish stocks? 8:37 How Mars got involved with sustainable seafood 12:14 How WWF and Mars are working together 16:14 Driving change for the whole seafood industry 20:04 What do best practices actually look like on a fishing vessel? 24:24 Blue finance – funding change at scale 31:58 What single change would have the biggest impact on ocean health? 35:51 Outro

NOTE: This episode was originally released in July 2025. Once nearly wiped out, the plains bison, or buffalo, as they are often called by Native Americans, are returning to the Great Plains — and with them, a powerful story of cultural renewal, ecological restoration, and Indigenous leadership. In this episode of Nature Breaking, WWF's Heather Dawn Thompson (a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) shares how Native Nations are leading efforts to restore buffalo populations, reclaim food sovereignty, and heal the land. From spiritual connections to practical conservation, this interview explores how buffalo are more than just wildlife — they are relatives, providers, and symbols of resilience. Links for More Info: Heather Dawn Thompson bio Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration WWF's Plains Bison page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 1:13 Intro 2:57 Heather Dawn's background and role at WWF 8:45 History of buffalo and connection with Native Nations 11:19 Role of Heather Dawn's family in conserving buffalo 13:44 What's it like to see a buffalo in real life? 15:18 Buffalo harvest story 16:47 Connection between buffalo and healthy grasslands 21:05 Buffalo and food sovereignty for Native Nations 24:07 Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration 29:20 Biggest challenges to buffalo restoration

Are you feeling stressed, scattered, or mentally drained? Science suggests a surprisingly simple way to feel better: spending time in nature. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we explore the growing body of psychological research showing how time spent outdoors improves focus, mood, and overall mental health. Host Seth Larson is joined by Dr. Dennis Stolle, Executive Lead Psychologist for Applied Psychology at the American Psychological Association (APA), to break down what's actually happening in our brains when we step into outside—and why even small doses of nature can make a real difference. It's an important reminder that when we take care of nature, nature takes care of us. This episode was produced as part of a collaboration between WWF and APA in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Links for More Info: Dr. Dennis Stolle bio American Psychological Association WWF – Mental Health & Nature page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:33 Intro 2:07 History of research into nature and mental health 5:09 What happens in our brains when we're outside? 9:21 How time in nature improves happiness 13:19 How too much time indoors or on screens hurts our mental health 16:43 Tips for boosting mental health through nature 20:41 We need nature, and nature needs us 23:08 Outro

When you think of endangered species, chances are the giant panda comes to mind. With their black‑and‑white coats, bamboo obsession, and internet‑famous antics, pandas are among the most beloved animals on Earth—and they're also one of conservation's most hopeful success stories. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we're diving into the surprisingly weird and wonderful world of giant pandas with Colby Loucks, Vice President and Deputy Lead of WWF's Wildlife Program. Together, we unpack what makes pandas so unique—from their "fake thumb" and bamboo‑only diet to their solitary lifestyles and playful personalities. But this isn't just about adorable panda videos. We also talk about how decades of conservation work helped giant pandas rebound from the brink of extinction, why they were reclassified from endangered to vulnerable, and what their recovery teaches us about protecting other species. Along the way, Colby shares firsthand stories from the field—including what it's really like trying (and failing) to spot a panda in the wild. Links for More Info: Colby Loucks bio WWF Giant Panda page Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:24 Intro 2:00 Giant Pandas 101 4:56 Why do pandas play? 7:56 How giant pandas became a conservation success story 12:28 Colby's story about tracking a panda in the wild 15:37 Outro

*Bonus Episode* What does it really mean to invest in nature—and why does it matter? In this special crossover episode of Nature Breaking and The Pew Charitable Trusts' After The Fact podcast, WWF's Seth Larson and Pew's Giuliana Pence explore the growing field of nature finance. Joined by experts from both organizations, they tackle a big question: how much does it cost to protect nature, and where does that money come from? You'll hear from Matthew Cranford of WWF and Shubash Lohani of Pew as they explain why the world needs roughly $1.2 trillion per year by 2030 to halt biodiversity loss—and why current funding falls short. They also break down innovative financing tools like Project Finance for Permanence, debt‑for‑nature swaps, and market-based models that are helping fund and secure long‑term protection for forests, oceans, and wildlife. From supporting Indigenous‑led conservation to restoring degraded landscapes, this episode shows why conservation isn't just a cost—it's an investment in healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and a stable global economy that can also yield financial returns, in addition to nature benefits. If you've ever wondered how conservation actually gets funded, this episode offers a clear, accessible look at what happens when nature gets the investment it deserves. Links for More Info: Matthew Cranford bio Shubash Lohani bio Pew's After The Fact podcast WWF's Nature Finance & Investment strategy Enduring Earth Chapters: 0:00 Intro – Welcome to a special crossover episode with Pew & WWF 1:29 Today's topic: nature finance 3:46 How much does it cost to save nature? 6:28 What does that money pay for? 12:17 What is "nature finance" and how does it work? 16:33 WWF's Nature Finance & Investment strategy 22:07 Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) & the Enduring Earth coalition 26:07 PFP results for nature and people 29:34 Connecting funders with high-quality projects 32:18 Quick Pitch: Why should funders invest in nature? 35:10 Matthew and Shubash reflect on each other's work 37:09 Seth and Giuliana's final thoughts

This week on Nature Breaking, we're teaming up with conservationist and content creator Maya Higa to kick off WWF's annual Give an Hour for Earth campaign. Maya is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber whose online community contributed tens of thousands of hours to our campaign last year.  Host Seth Larson interviews Maya about her journey from growing up on a farm to becoming a zookeeper, falconer, livestreamer, and founder of Alveus Sanctuary – a wildlife rehabilitation facility. She explains how digital platforms can be powerful tools for environmental education, what she's learned about inspiring young audiences, and why she believes small, everyday actions—done by many—can drive massive change.  Maya and Seth also break down their top recommendations for this year's Give an Hour for Earth activities, from simple trash cleanups to thoughtful grocery shopping, wildlife rehabilitation volunteering, and even livestream fundraising for conservation. Whether you're looking for hands‑on ways to help the planet or a dose of hope in the face of big environmental challenges, this episode is full of inspiration.  Links for More Info: TAKE ACTION: Give an Hour for Earth Maya Higa Alveus Sanctuary Maya's trash cleanup vlog Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:35 Intro 2:21 Maya's origin story 7:26 Maya's Tiny Mic video series and "hiding the broccoli" 9:54 The Alveus Sanctuary's mission 11:37 Give an Hour for Earth: Maya's trash cleanup experience 14:35 How small actions make a big difference 15:35 Maya and Seth's Top 3 Actions for Earth 22:16 Outro

Good news is hard to come by in the conservation world—but this week, we have some to share. A new report from WWF‑Mexico shows that the endangered migratory eastern monarch butterfly is showing promising signs of recovery, with monarchs occupying 7.24 acres of forest in their wintering grounds in Mexico—up from 4.42 acres last year. That's a 64% increase. In this episode of Nature Breaking, we revisit conversations with two monarch experts—Eduardo Rendón‑Salinas of WWF‑Mexico and Court Whelan of Natural Habitat Adventures—to explain why this rebound matters, how monarch populations are measured, and what challenges still lie ahead. From the butterfly's amazing multi‑generational migration that spans thousands of miles to the threats posed by habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, this episode dives into one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena on Earth. If you're looking for a rare bit of optimism—and a reminder of why these butterflies inspire wonder across North America—this episode is for you. Links for More Info: Report: Monarch butterfly population increases by 64% Monarch Milkweed Finder Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:23 Intro & New Report Findings 2:10 The epic migration of monarchs (spring to late summer) 3:41 The epic migration of monarchs (late summer to winter) 6:00 How do we monitor and estimate monarch populations? 7:40 Threats facing monarchs 10:42 Why should we care about monarchs? 12:07 Outro