These resources explore how Earth systems function as interconnected wholes — linking land use, vegetation, soils, water cycles, biodiversity, and climate. Understanding these relationships is essential for effective climate action, catchment restoration, and long-term resilience in Te Tai Tokerau.
Foundational Resources
Selected foundational resources supporting earth systems thinking.
How Plants Cool and Heal the Climate (Book)
Explores how vegetation, soils, and water cycles actively regulate climate through biological cooling, carbon–water feedbacks, and ecosystem regeneration
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The Biotic Pump (Earth System Science)
Anastassia Makarieva has published extensively on the biotic pump, first described by her and her colleague Victor Gorshov. Her workcontinues to inspire ours.
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Professor David Norton (podcast)
discusses how forests do far more than store carbon — moderating temperature, water, and wind — and why catchment-scale thinking is essential for resilient, regenerative landscapes.
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Additional Perspectives
Selected perspectives that explore land–water–biosphere interactions, biological cooling, and Earth system feedbacks relevant to climate resilience.
- Soils, Water, and Climate Cooling – perspectives exploring how soil health, vegetation, and water cycles influence biological cooling and climate regulation.
→ View resource - Oregon State University’s Andrew Millison’s YouTube channel includes clear, accessible illustrations of earth systems regeneration from India and Africa.
→ View the channel - Nate Hagens Great Simplification Podcast has a wide-ranging podcast series featuring guests exploring Earth systems, including Anastassia Makarieva, Oliver Milman, Malin Pinsky, Thomas Crowther, Kristine Tompkins, Daniel Wahl, and Vandana Shiva.
→ View the website - Ties van der Hoven of The Weather Makers explains how regreening the Sinai Peninsula, beginning with dredging Lake Bardawil, could influence the climate of the peninsula and beyond.
→ View the video - When Life Enters the Equation – Rob Lewis’s A compelling article framing climate action as having two essential legs: emissions reduction and the flourishing of life.
→ View the article - Soil carbon – a climate change silver bullet? This page outlines the many benefits of soil carbon with links to a range of local and international expertise.
→ View the page - Trees – This page asks and answers questions about planning for afforestation in the region.
→ View the page - Project Drawdown has played an important role in highlighting practical emissions-reduction strategies. We include it here as one influential framework, while recognising the importance of broader Earth-system dynamics beyond carbon alone.
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Media and conversations
Selected conversations that explore Earth system dynamics, including the roles of forests, water, soils, and biodiversity in regulating climate.
- Climate Kōrero Episode 6 – Andrea Booth of Mountains to Sea discusses inspiring work across communities to connect people — especially rangatahi — to awa, moana, and taiao through education, restoration, and hands-on learning.
→ View the podcast - Rewilding and Cooling with Ruminants – Our post on rewilding efforts in Europe and the connection to global cooling.
→ Read the post - Ocean Health is a Key to Healing the Climate – Our post highlighting the work of Howard Dryden on the sea surface microlayer and the role and potential of phytoplankton in climate regulation.
→ Read the post
Climate Action Tai Tokerau 