Ecological literacy, ecosystem restoration, and why humans belong in nature

Scott Poynton speaks with Tim Christopherson, author of Generation Restoration, about why ecological literacy is now a survival skill and why humans must rediscover that we are part of nature, not separate from it. From shifting baselines and EU policy to regenerative farming, restoration case studies, and the spiritual practice of reciprocity, this is a hopeful, grounded conversation about the choices that shape our future.

Topics include: ecosystem restoration, ecological literacy, sustainability leadership, regenerative agriculture, climate and nature policy, stewardship, spirituality and nature.

In this episode, Scott Poynton is joined by Tim Christopherson - UN and Salesforce sustainability leader and author of Generation Restoration - for a wide-ranging conversation on what it will take to repair our "relationship crisis" with nature.

Tim shares the personal roots of his restoration journey (including a childhood pond restoration) and traces a career spanning the IUCN, the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNEP, and now the private sector—helping build nature strategies inside a major technology company.

Together, Scott and Tim explore the core thesis of the book: that ecological literacy is now essential for a functioning civilisation. They unpack the "shifting baseline syndrome" that blinds us to what's been lost, challenge the deeply embedded Western assumption that humans are separate from nature, and argue for a more grounded view: humans as responsible ecosystem engineers capable of stewardship and reciprocity.

The conversation moves from philosophy to practice - regenerative agriculture, farmer-managed natural regeneration, the emerging scale of restoration efforts (including examples from the Amazon and the Andes), and the crucial role of policy in setting enabling conditions, such as the EU Nature Restoration Law. Finally, they touch on the inner dimension: quiet attention, spirituality (distinct from religion), and the everyday choices that shape whether we continue an extractive path or step into "generation restoration."

• Generation Restoration: a hopeful, action-oriented frame for ecosystem restoration as a cross-generational task.

• Ecological literacy: why it matters for a functioning civilisation; shifting baselines and remembering abundance.

• Humans as part of nature: challenging the Western/Enlightenment separation; stewardship and reciprocity.

• Restoration in practice: nature's rapid response; agriculture as the key sector; FMNR and scalable examples.

• Policy & markets: EU Nature Restoration Law; enabling conditions; incentives and externalities.

• Hope without denial: focusing attention on what works; "pages 5–7" good news mindset.

• Spiritual dimension: quiet, listening to nature, reciprocity; spirituality distinct from organised religion.

• "We are ecosystem engineers - far more powerful than beavers or elephants - and we're barely aware of the responsibility."

• "Shifting baseline syndrome means we forget how rich nature once was… and we stop imagining what we could restore."

• "Read pages five to seven of your newspaper - good news is rarely on the front page."

• "Nature isn't saved by removing people. The best protected landscapes are often Indigenous-managed territories."

• "This is less about nature's survival and more about the quality of life our civilisation can afford."

• "Restoration is reciprocity: moving from an abusive relationship with nature to a caring one."

In this episode, Scott reflects on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) through the lens of three decades of work on forest protection and responsible sourcing.

Drawing on his direct involvement in pioneering the world's first corporate No Deforestation, Explotiation and Peatland Clearance (NDPE) commitments with companies such as Nestlé, Golden Agri-Resources, Asia Pulp & Paper and Wilmar, Scott situates the EUDR as both a continuation of — and a departure from — earlier, more collaborative approaches to stopping deforestation.

While welcoming the ambition of the EUDR, Scott raises serious concerns about its implementation. Based on recent fieldwork in cocoa-growing communities in Cross River State, Nigeria, he describes a troubling disconnect: smallholder farmers have little or no awareness of the regulation, are continuing to clear forest to expand production, and risk losing access to European markets without receiving the support needed to improve yields on existing land.

Scott argues that, as a blunt legal instrument, the EUDR risks producing perverse outcomes — including displacement of deforestation to non-EU markets, worsening farmer livelihoods, and potentially accelerating forest loss. He questions whether the regulation sufficiently accounts for land-use realities, customary tenure systems, and the ethical implications of restricting land-use decisions in developing countries.

The episode concludes with a call to learn from the NDPE experience of the early 2010s: bringing companies, NGOs, governments and farmers into structured dialogue, replacing accusation with cooperation, and recognising that forest conservation is ultimately about people as much as trees.

Keywords

deforestation, EUDR, environmental regulation, sustainable sourcing, smallholder farmers, corporate responsibility, traceability, forest conservation, agricultural practices, NGO involvement

Takeaways

• The EUDR aims to prevent deforestation linked to various commodities.
• There is significant pushback against the EUDR from industries.
• Smallholder farmers are often unaware of regulations affecting their livelihoods.
• Traceability systems are crucial for compliance with the EUDR.
• Past commitments have shown the importance of engaging all stakeholders.
• The EUDR's implementation has been delayed multiple times.
• Companies are concerned about the lack of guidance on EUDR enforcement.
• The regulation could inadvertently lead to increased deforestation in some areas.
• Collaboration between NGOs and companies is essential for effective solutions.
• The EUDR must consider the rights and needs of local farmers.

Sound Bites

"Did anyone ever talk to those farmers?"
"It's about people, not just trees."
"The EUDR has very rocky ground ahead."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Deforestation Regulation
04:57 The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Overview
09:33 Challenges in Implementing EUDR
14:05 Impact on Smallholder Farmers
19:04 Lessons from Past Commitments
24:46 The Need for Collaboration and Compromise

Summary

In this episode of Sustainability Stories, Scott Poynton shares his experiences in Nakpatua, Ghana, where he introduces biochar to local farmers. The conversation explores the farmers' initial understanding of biochar, their observations during trials, and the potential benefits of using biochar in agriculture. The episode highlights the community's engagement and the promising future of biochar in enhancing soil health and resilience against climate change.

Takeaways

• The farmers in Nakpatua had little knowledge of biochar before its introduction.
• Biochar is made from agricultural waste and helps retain water in soil.
• Farmers are eager to learn and observe the effects of biochar on their crops.
• Mixing biochar with manure is a favored method among farmers.
• Farmers are not nervous about using biochar due to positive past experiences with charcoal.
• Biochar can increase crop yields by 20-30%.
• The longevity of biochar in soil is a significant advantage over chemical fertilizers.
• Farmers are encouraged to experiment with biochar in their gardens and fields.
• The community's trust in Scott Poynton's initiatives is strong due to past successes.
• The future of biochar in Nakpatua looks promising as farmers continue to learn and adapt.

Sound Bites

"You do get benefits just with biochar."
"They have no doubt at all."
"I think it's going to be great."