Wao Podcast: The power of community collaboration: dark skies and fewer predators

In this episode, we’re talking with Dr Leslie Van Gelder who wears many interesting hats including as Chairperson of the QLDC Climate Reference Group and is a leader, mover and shaker of multiple projects in and around Glenorchy at the tip of Lake Wakatipu where she lives. Leslie is an archaeologist, a writer and an educator, and is equally passionate about our past and our future.

Although she lives on a fairly hard-to-reach location at the foot of the Southern Alps and is clearly very involved in her local community, Leslie is also Professor of Education at Walden University which has its headquarters in Minneapolis some 14,000km away, but serves students around the world.

Leslie shares her insights on community resilience, conservation efforts, and the importance of hopefulness in challenging times. She discusses some recent achievements in Glenorchy, including the Dark Skies Project and the Southern Lakes Sanctuary, highlighting the power of community collaboration and the role of technology in conservation.

She emphasises the significance of gratitude and connection in building a strong community, encouraging listeners to take small actions that contribute to a positive future.