Nearly all humans, in some form or fashion, use wild species in their daily lives. From food to energy, industry, furniture, infrastructure, apparel and simple enjoyment outdoors, wild species underpin our health, wealth and overall way of life. And yet, our unsustainable use of nature is one of the main drivers casting an omen of extinction onto some 1 million forms of wildlife.

In July 2022, the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the foremost scientific agency on biodiversity, launched its Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment, a seminal work of more than 85 experts from 33 countries over the past four years. The report draws attention to the most critical ways that wild species sustain us and lays out pathways to ensure their continued survival.

Originally aired following the Assessment’s official launch, this episode features Marla Emery, one of the report’s three co-chairs, to take a closer look at what the report has to say – and what we must do now.