Nature's Blueprint: Cooling the Planet From the Ground Up

The power to reverse climate change might be right under our feet. In this captivating conversation with Stephen from Regenerate Earth, we explore how understanding and enhancing soil microbiology could transform our landscapes from arid to abundant.

Stephen shares his journey blending commercial guiding and outdoor education with ecology and environmental science, leading to his current work producing transformative films about landscape regeneration. He introduces us to "Liquid Hearts," a new film seven years in the making that documents efforts to restore Australia's Alpine regions - the watersheds that provide 42% of our nation's food supply. The film traces how First Nations knowledge, scientific expertise, and practical field work since the 1950s have combined to heal this critical ecosystem.

What makes this conversation truly remarkable is the tangible proof that regeneration works. Stephen describes a project in India where regenerative farming practices transformed desert into food forest, reducing ground temperatures from a scorching 75°C to a comfortable 29°C. Even more striking, during a recent cyclone, chemical-treated crops were completely flattened while naturally-grown plants right next door remained standing - demonstrating how working with natural systems creates resilience to extreme weather events.

The implications for Australia's outdoor industry are profound. As climate extremes increasingly disrupt our activities through bushfires, floods and dangerous heat, understanding regenerative approaches becomes essential for our collective future. Stephen's work shows that landscapes can be healed and climate effects reversed through relatively simple interventions that help nature do what it naturally wants to do.

Join us for the "Liquid Hearts" film screenings in Canberra (July 29) and Jindabyne (July 30) to witness this regenerative journey and discover how we can all participate in healing our most precious landscapes. Because as Stephen reminds us, "Nature has all solutions" - we just need to help it heal.

Chapters

• 0:00 Connected Share with Outdoors NSW & ACT
• 1:06 Important July Reminders for Businesses
• 3:07 OCA Strategic Plan and Outdoors October
• 5:53 Stephen's Introduction to Regeneration Work
• 9:40 The Liquid Hearts Film About Alpine Restoration
• 19:51 Reversing Climate Change Through Natural Processes
• 31:01 Blacktown's Western Sydney Moving Initiative
• 35:20 Closing and Next Week's Connect and Share