Thomas Crowther
on Listening to Nature’s Echo
When was the last time you listened to Nature's Echo?
Thomas W. Crowther won't miss a day!
He has always been fascinated by biodiversity, by the invisible networks connecting all living things - the reason he dedicated his career to understanding these remarkable relationships: "Nature is the source of everything. It's what allowed us to survive, so it should absolutely be the thing we come together around!"
As a child, he grew up anxious. His biophilia brought despair whenever he heard of animals losing their homes. But a teacher told him: "Kid, if you focus on the things you can control and let go of what you can't, you can nourish what brings you joy!"
And so did he! He is now an author, Professor of Ecology, and founder of Branch Institute and Restor, an open-data platform supporting ecosystem restoration worldwide.
He sees regeneration as the flourishing of flora and fauna that bring magic back to the world, but it all begins with rebuilding relationships between people, communities, and the living systems that sustain us: "We need more than technology or policy. We need the entire ecology of humanity working together." Though "restore" means returning something to its original condition, Tom goes deeper. It means giving it back to its rightful owners: "True restoration is about returning ecosystems to the biodiversity and communities that depend on them. No one understands an ecosystem better than those who live within it."
His new book, Nature's Echo, is built around this idea of careful noticing.
When you start observing feedback loops, you can't stop seeing them everywhere: “Following these lines of causality helps make sense of the past and imagine the future. Realising their power brings an incredible sense of agency!"
Feedback loops are not just a feature of ecology, but "pretty magical patterns" behind the most powerful forces the universe has seen. They happen when a process causes something that reinforces that inciting process. Be it the formation of stars or climate change - once a loop begins, it becomes a force - destructive or regenerative. "Positive feedback loops are the agents of growth. But without negative feedback loops, no system can stay stable. Balance is everything in nature."
The real secret lies in listening - to the frequencies of life, from birds and insects to wind and rain: "Bioacoustics is an incredible way to discover ecological complexity that helps us notice the variations between a healthy and an unhealthy ecosystem." Sound also opens our imagination: "We all share an innate preference for the soundscapes of healthy nature over the sounds of degradation." It's no surprise meditation music features birdsong: "Our love for them is baked into our genetic makeup!"
Read Thomas W. Crowther's answers for Inspirators and tune back to nature's soundtrack!
Thank you, Tom, for being a Nature Listener!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Tom Crowther
Company / Institution: Branch, KAUST, Restor
Title: Professor of Ecology
Website: https://thomas-crowther.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twcrowther/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crowther-thomas-ecology
Country of origin: UK
Country you currently live in: My work is now happening in many countries!
Your definition of Regeneration: The flourishing of natural flora and fauna that bring resilience and magic back to our societies.
A challenge you are currently navigating in your work: Having enough time to do everything.
Main driver that keeps you going: Nature; Knowing we can save more, so we can increase biodiversity and improve rural livelihoods across the globe.
We know we can revitalise our planet if a tiny fraction of global wealth reaches the billions of rural nature stewards around the world. We can get more people excited about the regenerative opportunities that improve their daily lives. When nature recovery improves people's livelihoods, regeneration stops being a hopeful dream and becomes an inevitable force.
An ancestral teaching or Indigenous worldview that changed how you see life: They say life goes too fast. But you would never say that if you have sat alone for a day immersed in nature. The beauty of such an experience is profoundly life-changing and eternal.
A human or more-than-human Inspirator who shaped who you are today: I was failing in university until an amazing lecturer named Dr. Hefin Jones sent me out of a class. But he showed me that, to progress in my studies, I don't need to be an expert at everything, and I don't need to see it as an endless chore. I just need to find the parts that I love and focus on those. These simple words changed my life.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: To see the good in everyone, and find the positive in everything, even at times that seem to be desperate. The way we face hard times shapes the physical future.
The trait you most value in others: Authenticity. That is what builds the foundations of everything our society needs.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Nature, being in the forests, the mountains, the streams, and I love the act of bushcrafting for my outdoor survival.
A meaningful place to start for those at the beginning of the regeneration journey: Whatever brings you joy. You won't make any difference if you see regeneration as a chore. But if you find regenerative ways to improve your health, wealth, fun, or fashion choices, you will find intrinsic motivation to do more.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: Our future looks bleak.
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope:
“There is good in this world Mr Frodo, and it is worth fighting for!” (Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings)
Must-read books that had a great impact on you:
· For fiction - The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, of course
· For non-fiction - I loved 13 Things That Don't Make Sense by Michael Brooks
Movies or documentaries you love: The Lord of the Rings.
Websites or podcasts you visit frequently: The Premier League football page on the BBC.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: The Avatar soundtrack.
Places you traveled to that left a mark on you: Costa Rica, Namibia, Corsica … there are so many!
Global Regenerative Voices we should follow: I love the Earthrise and Earthed movements.
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: The global restoration movement is growing fast as farmers and indigenous communities are improving nature to enhance their own livelihoods. You can see the entire movement, with all these local sites, growing on the Restor.eco website. And you can engage with them by buying their products or visiting their sites.
Events or gatherings we should attend for inspiration: The Earthed Summit.
Educational resources or courses you recommend: Everything I know is in my book, Nature’s Echo!
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future: Every regenerative action that brings joy to your own personal life will increase the chances that others around you will do the same. It doesn't matter if that is eating vegetarian food for health reasons or upcycling your clothes for fashion improvements. If you gain authentic joy from it, you will inspire others to do the same, and your actions can have an incredible impact.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future: I see absolutely no reason to do so.
Regenerative Leadership values are much needed today: When organizations nourish the people within them, then they can thrive.
The Inspirator(s) you are endorsing for a future edition: Al Gore
The quote that inspires you:
‘Small chances of success? Certainty of death? What are we waiting for?'
(From Gimli the dwarf in The Lord of the Rings. When faced by the forces of darkness, he was eager to get stuck in!)
Your quote that will inspire us:
