What is happening to wetlands in Trump's America? Professor Royal C. Gardner tells us.

VIsit Koforidua, Apenkwa, Ghana, and meet Samuel Kudjodzi.

Plus wetland news (links below).

Apologies that every voice in this episode is male – I'll try not to let that happen again.

A Wetland Podcast is a personal project not reflecting any employer. More: https://www.patreon.com/Awetlandpodcast

Updates

Standing Committee of the Convention on Wetlands: https://www.ramsar.org/meeting/67th-meeting-standing-committee

Youth engagement paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70302 and https://relationalthinkingblog.com/2026/03/20/plain-language-summary-youth-networks-are-key-but-overlooked-actors-in-environmental-governance/

OECM Platform: https://www.oecm.info/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/harry-jonas_oecm-platform-ugcPost-7450489981338341377-VJkI?

Whitley Awards: https://whitleyaward.org/awards/

World Migratory Bird Day: https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/#2026

World Saltmarsh Day: https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/world-saltmarsh-day

People, Police, or Practice

Professor Royal C Gardner: https://www.stetson.edu/law/faculty/home/royal-gardner.php

List of MEAs the USA left in January 2026 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-international-organizations-conventions-and-treaties-that-are-contrary-to-the-interests-of-the-united-states/

More on his book: https://mavensnotebook.com/2026/05/15/author-interview-royal-gardner-waters-of-the-united-states-potus-scotus-wotus-and-the-politics-of-a-national-resource/

Water Margin

Meet Samuel Kudjodzi https://earth.fm/recording-expeditions/the-centre-for-soundscape-ecology-multimedia-training-program-ghana/

https://www.instagram.com/csem_official/ And hear more of the recordings: https://aporee.org/maps/?what=wetland&limitBounds=on&fromYear=2025&fromMonth=04&fromDay=30&toYear=2026&toMonth=04&toDay=30&fromHour=00&fromMin=00&toHour=00&toMin=00

Other stories you might have missed

Chennai reservoir plans spark protests, warnings:

https://www.dw.com/en/chennai-reservoir-plans-spark-protests-and-warnings/video-76914064

WaterNSW criticised for ‘appalling’ decision after hundreds of turtles left to die in wetlands: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/21/water-nsw-criticised-for-appalling-decision-after-hundreds-of-turtles-left-to-die-in-wetlands

Volunteers work to save eels trapped in mud of dried-up Pukepuke Lagoon: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/592456/volunteers-work-to-save-eels-trapped-in-mud-of-dried-up-pukepuke-lagoon

eNGOs being squeezed in Brussels: https://reporterre.net/C-est-une-chasse-aux-sorcieres-la-droite-europeenne-veut-reduire-au-silence-les-ONG

Drought drives elevated antibiotic resistance across soils: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-026-02274-x.epdf

Multiple development banks launch 'Water Forward' initiative: https://live.worldbank.org/en/event/2026/spring-meetings-water-forward