The Nuances of Conservation with Greta Iori

On this week's episode, Rutendo is joined by international adviser, conservation expert, and accredited conflict mediator Greta Iori.Greta is working at the forefront of global conservation—tackling the illegal wildlife trade, shaping nature–climate policy, and navigating the complex realities of human–wildlife coexistence. As a founding fellow of Women for the Environment Africa and former lead on human–elephant conflict strategies with the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation, her work spans over 25 countries and sits at the intersection of ecology, policy, and social justice.But beyond the titles, this is a conversation about rethinking conservation itself.We talk about Greta’s childhood in Ethiopia, the moment she realised veterinary medicine wasn’t her path, and how her journey led her into political ecology. We also explore why the label “conservationist” can feel limiting, and why meaningful conservation work requires embracing nuance, complexity, and our full humanity.This episode is about systems, identity, and what it really means to coexist—with each other and with the natural world.Production & Editing: Rutendo ShackletonSound: Izwirashe Wazara