The first step to saving nature is the rewilding of our own minds, says conservationist and former Patagonia CEO Kristine McDivitt Tompkins. With an unwavering commitment to protecting ecosystems, she and her late husband Douglas Tompkins created vast conservation parks across South America that allowed ancient flora and fauna to flourish once again. Now, she’s carrying that legacy and mission forward with a bold plan to connect parks across geographic boundaries, creating a system of continental-scale wildlife corridors — before it’s too late. (Recorded at TED2024 on April 16, 2024)
If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:
Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
Watch more:
TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
#TED #TEDTalks #nature
@mr.c2485
September 30, 2024 at 7:50 am
Someone say….”pipe dream”…..
@zapbutton8553
September 30, 2024 at 7:55 am
What’s with the broker spam in the comments?
@ZhangWei02
September 30, 2024 at 8:10 am
Agreed, wtf? I reported it.
@sparkysmalarkey
September 30, 2024 at 6:06 pm
Suckerfishing.
@StigHelmer
September 30, 2024 at 7:56 am
Small minds will only think in short terms. A problem with people like the woman is that they think this is the end state of the Earth and it’s humans responsibility to “correct things”. The human existence has no effect the world in a grand view and in a million year when there are no humans alive the Earth will continue to exist without us.
@davaguco
September 30, 2024 at 8:03 am
One of the best TED videos I have seen. I wish more people would join her.
@tride.design
September 30, 2024 at 8:21 am
Thank you Madam
@bucketsbucket1593
September 30, 2024 at 8:23 am
So you jetted around the world telling everyone they are destroying the world. Got it!
@prajwalshetty9809
September 30, 2024 at 11:14 am
After donating entire national parks. Heard of math?
@bucketsbucket1593
September 30, 2024 at 11:32 am
@@prajwalshetty9809 how does a person own entire national parks ffs
@bucketsbucket1593
September 30, 2024 at 11:35 am
@@prajwalshetty9809 let’s do some math then. How do we feed the planet if it is rewilded (whatever that’s supposed to mean)?
@hcdx
September 30, 2024 at 8:33 am
Wow, i see TED in my natural language, thanks TED
@MsTosha1111
September 30, 2024 at 8:54 am
Beautiful ❤️❤️
@noname-pb9vj
September 30, 2024 at 9:35 am
Anything is possible with money.
@prajwalshetty9809
September 30, 2024 at 11:15 am
This is the dream! But clearly I have to be a successful Co founder or CEO first.
@tengotnco5942
September 30, 2024 at 11:44 am
CEO of the earth, the model of a corporation with human and natural purpose❤🎉
@TheMrmoc7
September 30, 2024 at 11:47 am
I saw a big terrifying spider in my pool the other day and I allowed to live (I helped it out of the pool). This is my contribution to saving the planet.
@tinoyb9294
September 30, 2024 at 5:40 pm
More than most people do.
@Jagmohan-ip1ou
September 30, 2024 at 11:51 am
great work ma’am❤❤🙌🙌, i believe that this would inspire many others to contribute in the recovery of nature . I request everyone reading the comments to contribute as much as possible . We all love nature and wants to live a peaceful life ❤
@Billchu13
September 30, 2024 at 11:54 am
Decimation would mean only 10%- how much natural land has been developed in the last 2 centuries?
@robertbaindourov134
September 30, 2024 at 12:40 pm
She’s an extinctionist. Dangerous thinking.
@Gloriajeanne33
September 30, 2024 at 5:24 pm
hahahahaha..
@andycordy5190
September 30, 2024 at 1:48 pm
I so love what has been achieved here but sparsely populated lands are not where the problem lies. Our sprawling cities and their monstrous suburbs are what is killing our planet. Let’s tell it like it is a put the blame where it belongs, that is with human ambition and population growth.
@csten133
September 30, 2024 at 1:50 pm
👌🌱🐌🌴✨
@TioDave
September 30, 2024 at 2:48 pm
I think the main issue is centralized purveyors of information. They act as sort of gate keepers to information people need to hear to reach the point of understanding. They might not realize it, but they are controlling the narrative in a non productive fashion. Once conversation about such topics are normalized in regular conversation, then the problem will be solved.
@TomNov77
September 30, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Fantastic work and yes we need large and small scale rewilding, reconnecting people with nature and protect it. Im planning to create small wildlife sanctuary myself once I get enough funds 💚🌳🦋🐝🪲
@greensky01
September 30, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Dear TED, is “rewild” even a word?!
@Gloriajeanne33
September 30, 2024 at 5:37 pm
Im All for this. The restoration of planet Earths nature ecosystem of flora & fauna. The expansion of native wildlifd parks in every country and the growth of technology and new ways to house people can work hand in hand. Immense gratitude to giants like these who have achieved this feat. They should both be household names in every family, yet l have never heard of them before. l hope l live to see the day this is happening in Australia and New Zealand .. everywhere.
@debbiewall2160
September 30, 2024 at 6:07 pm
Since we’ve put a man on the moon, the human population has more than doubled while that of the wild animals has more than halved. The survivors need full protection and deserve to live and raise their families in peace. And for us humans? Less breedin’. Live vegan!
@jimfromburbankca5253
September 30, 2024 at 7:56 pm
This woman is not a credentialed biologist or scientist. She is a housewife whose husband did well in business. Her opinion means nothing to me.
@orokusaki1243
September 30, 2024 at 9:21 pm
As a fauna, myself, I agree in expansion of territories that support an ecosystem that I can thrive in.
Have we “conquered” the wilds? Or have we doomed them?
As humans, we do create a lot of waste, and we exploit our environment to dangerous levels. Make it economically beneficial, and everyone will jump on board – as we’ve seen with industrialization, and we could also see with conservation.
Else, really the only species we need to hang onto are the ones we consume (plant, animal, & fungi), and those who play roles in our human agriculture (pollinators, pest control, aerators, & organic matter).
We have the technology and ideas to be more symbiotic with nature, and less parasitic.