You’ve heard the saying before: “let nature do its thing.” But if someone kicked the crap out of your friend, would you step back to let them heal? Or rush them to a hospital? And if they were bleeding, would a bandage suffice? Or would you want to find the source?
This may seem like a far cry from the subject of salmon, but it’s not — this is exactly what process restoration is, and a big part of guest Jessica Hutchinson’s work. Jessica is a restoration biologist and Executive Director of Redd Fish Restoration Society, a registered charity that has worked with permission and in partnership with the nuučaanuł Nations in their ḥaḥuułi (territory) for over 30 years. Using science, technology, and Indigenous knowledge, Redd Fish works to restore damaged ecosystems, rebuild wild salmon stocks, and inspire an ethic of stewardship. Plus they produce some really cool videos.
Host Auston Chhor chats with Jessica about her journey to Redd Fish, how a summer Tofino trip turned permanent, and what the name of the organization means. The two then go on to discuss the organization’s approach to healing watersheds — if you’ve listened to previous episodes of “More than a fish” you’ll know the interconnection of salmon to BC’s landscapes is boundless, so it’s not surprising that a holistic approach to their recovery is necessary. What are the root causes of degradation?
“Maybe we shouldn’t even use the term restoration, because it implies we can actually take it back to something it was before, and that’s probably not true. It’s about accelerating recovery and stewardship, and investing in these watersheds for the long-term.”
Can restoration be forward-facing?
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Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org