When was the last time you truly marveled at a swamp? Or felt grateful for the soggy marshes in your town?

These aquatic landscapes are wetland ecosystems, and while they might be often overlooked, they are nature’s quiet superheroes: filtering our water, sheltering biodiversity, capturing carbon and even protecting communities from storms and floods.

But although these ecosystems are increasingly being recognized for the benefits they provide, they’re also being lost or degraded faster than we can protect them.

In fact, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. Some of their biggest threats include urban expansion, pollution and the climate crisis.

And yet, as extreme weather becomes increasingly common, and cities face growing flood risks, we need wetlands to mitigate these threats more than ever. So, how can we protect our planet’s ‘kidneys’?

In episode 4 of TalkLandscape, we get the inside scoop from the frontlines of wetland conservation and restoration. From Indigenous-led restoration projects to nature-based urban planning, we explore how communities worldwide are working with wetlands to build resilience.

For more information, visit: thinklandscape.globallandscapesforum.org

Africa is incredibly rich in natural resources – from lush forests and fertile soils to a third of the world’s biodiversity. But this natural wealth is as vast as it is vulnerable.

The impacts of the climate crisis are intensifying across the continent. Unpredictable rainfall, land degradation and extreme temperatures pose growing threats to those who depend on these resources.

This reality, combined with global cuts to aid and Africa’s unique demographics – with nearly half of the continent’s population under the age of 20 – calls for bold ideas to create long-term opportunities.

How can we reverse this trend and build a cycle of prosperity by working with nature rather than against it? Can Africa lead the world in protecting its ecosystems, while also creating millions of green jobs and livelihoods?

In Episode 3 of TalkLandscape, we explore how to redefine prosperity and build resilient communities through ecosystem restoration, environmental conservation and local innovation.

From youth-led restoration initiatives to policy shifts and community-led economic models, we chat with experts on how we can open pathways that make both people and nature thrive.

Join us on for a conversation with Sydner Kemunto, 2025 Dryland Restoration Steward, Nadia Sitas, ecosystem-based adaptation thematic lead for the Climate & Development Knowledge Network at SouthSouthNorth, and Kofi Akamani, professor of forest recreation and conservation social science in the Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University.

For more information, visit: thinklandscape.globallandscapesforum.org

Every year, somewhere in the world, something is burning.

They’re becoming a yearly reality for people in rural and urban areas across the globe – with devastating effects.

This crisis is both widespread and deeply personal.

In Episode 2 of TalkLandscape, we explore how to shift from reactive to resilient, from fire suppression to fire prevention – combining traditional knowledge, scientific research and local leadership.

We look at how communities can not only become more resilient in the face of extreme fires but also restore their landscapes and reduce future fire risks.

Join the conversation with André Guimarães, executive director of IPAM Amazônia, Sarasi Silvester Sinurat, coordinator of GLFx Kalimantan, and Rachael Cavanagh, cultural fire keeper and Indigenous knowledge consultant at Balun Budjabin Consulting.

For more information, visit: thinklandscape.globallandscapesforum.org