Return of the Water Humans; Ben Goldfarb and the Beavers that Built America
The Poor Prole’s AlmanacShow Notes
What if one of the most effective tools for restoring North America’s natural landscapes has four legs, a flat tail, and a habit of building dams? In this episode, we talk with environmental journalist and author Ben Goldfarb about beavers, their remarkable influence on ecosystems, and the growing movement to bring them back to landscapes where they once thrived.
Drawing on his award-winning book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, Ben explores how the widespread trapping and removal of beavers transformed North America’s rivers, wetlands, and watersheds—and how their return can help restore them. From creating habitat for fish and wildlife to storing water, mitigating drought, and potentially reducing wildfire risks, beavers can have an outsized impact on the environments they inhabit. We discuss the science behind these natural engineers, the challenges of reintroducing them, and what it takes for people and beavers to coexist.
We also explore Ben’s broader work, including Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, which examines how roads fragment habitats and disrupt wildlife movement. Together, these topics offer a fresh perspective on conservation: understanding how human activity has reshaped the natural world, and how we can work with natural processes to build healthier, more resilient landscapes.
Check out Ben's writing at https://www.bengoldfarb.com/
For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org
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