Myth: People and livestock are bad for biodiversity

This episode of the REPAiR Podcast is the fifth in a series that explores myths about rangelands and the ideas behind them, and what alternative stories and ideas can be found. This time, we’re talking about the myth that ‘people and livestock are bad for biodiversity’. This episode includes part of a recorded online discussion that took place on 28 May 2026. The event is introduced by Linda Pappagallo, coordinator of the Rangeland Myths initiative. Our guest speakers are John Harold, Farm Partnership Manager at Plantlife International based in the UK; Munib Khanyari, a post-doctoral researcher with CONDJUST at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, whose work focuses on pastoralism and wildlife conservation in the Himalayas; and Pablo Manzano, an Ikerbasque Fellow at the Basque Centre for Climate Change in Bilbao, Spain, who researches pastoralist socio-ecosystems and compares their environmental benefits and impacts with the ones of wildlife-dominated grazed ecosystems.We are grateful to Rashmi Singh and Francis Massé for chairing the discussion that followed.LinksRangeland Myths (REPAiR Project series)Myth: People and livestock are bad for biodiversity, think piece by Linda PappagalloInternational Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit repairproject.substack.com