Biologists Unite! The Rise and Fall of Ecosystem Services with Professor Daniel Suarez, Middlebury College

Biologists Unite! The Rise and Fall of Ecosystem Services with Professor Daniel Suarez, Middlebury College

Author: KSQD 90.7 FM in Santa Cruz & KSQD.org March 1, 2026 Duration: 53:17

Over the past several decades, there has been a concerted effort by biologists, economists and others to put a value on nature’s services: what would it cost, for example, to provide clean water the way nature does?  Oxygen, photosynthesis, soil?  Early estimates were around $30 trillion per year; arguably, today they are much higher, over $100 trillion.  But getting from hypothetical calculations to actual incorporation into real work policy and development projects is no easy task.  Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a conversation with Daniel Chiu Suarez, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Middlebury College in Vermont. He has just published Biologists Unite!  The Rise and Fall of Ecosystem Services, an account of why three decades of academic, activist and policy efforts have failed to incorporate ecosystems services into global economic accounting and action.


Every other Sunday, Sustainability Now! on KSQD.org offers a thoughtful space to explore the complex questions facing our planet. Born from the community airwaves of KSQD 90.7 FM in Santa Cruz, this podcast connects the local environmental pulse of Northern California to global conversations. Since its launch in 2019 by host Ronnie Lipschutz, the program has built a reputation for deep, engaging dialogues that refuse to simplify the challenges at hand. You’ll hear from a compelling mix of voices-field researchers detailing ecological shifts, philosophers examining our relationship with nature, community organizers building practical solutions, and authors framing new narratives for society. The discussions naturally weave between science, culture, and policy, reflecting a belief that true sustainability is as much about philosophy and community as it is about data. This isn’t about alarmism or easy answers; it’s about informed, nuanced exploration. Tuning in means listening to people who are actively thinking, studying, and working on the front lines of change. Each episode of this KSQD podcast provides substance and perspective, whether the topic is regenerative agriculture, conservation ethics, technological innovation, or social justice. It’s for anyone ready to move beyond headlines and engage with the ideas and actions shaping a viable future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

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