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Wildcard: The Forest Game - A scientific adventure across Europe's hidden forests

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by Wildcard

9 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview

What if rewilding Europe were a strategic board game where every forest hides a secret, and every move shapes the future of our ecosystems?  Welcome to an extraordinary audio journey that transforms the complex world of ecological restoration into an immersive, continent-spanning adventure.  Guided by expert researchers and scientists, the podcast dives into the investigative work of identifying true wilderness, explores the delicate balance between conservation and human needs, and highlights innovative strategies that restore ecosystems to their full complexity.  🌐 wildcard-project.eu

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Publishing Since

6/20/2025

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Ep. 8: Where wolves walk: natural reforestation and the return of wildlife

June 26, 2026

Ep. 8: Where wolves walk: natural reforestation and the return of wildlife

<p>As European forests regenerate, wildlife responds, but the relationship is far more complex than animals simply returning to restored habitats. They actively shape forests through browsing, seed dispersal, and creating gaps.</p><p>Trishna Dutta from the European Forest Institute studied how wildlife and forest regeneration interact in North Rhine-Westphalia. Her camera traps revealed how changing landscapes become corridors for animal movement. Species colonized new territories.</p><p>Ecologist Davide Serva explains habitat connectivity: naturally regenerating forests create pathways through human-dominated landscapes, allowing animals to moveand establish populations. Yet animals don&#39;t simply occupy these spaces, they transform them. Predators and prey shape forest structure together. Herbivores influence which plants survive.</p><p>This is rewilding as a two-way conversation between land and wildlife, each reshaping the other.</p><p>Welcome to WILDCARD: The Forest Game, the scientific podcast that explores Europe&#39;s rewilding revolution through real ecological detective stories, uncovering how nature recovers when humans step back and observe.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CREDITS</strong></p><p>«WILDCARD. The Forest Game» is a podcast production written by Silvia Giralucci for the WILDCARD projectand Starter. </p><p><strong>Featuring:</strong> Trishna Dutta, European Forest Institute,Davide Serva, Doñana Biological Station. </p><p><strong>Scientific Supervisor: </strong>Giorgio Alberti, University of Udine</p><p><strong>Editorial Supervisor: </strong>Gesche Schifferdecker, European ForestInstitute </p><p><strong>Voice-over:</strong> Rahel Könen, European Forest Institute </p><p><strong>Post-production:</strong> Sara Uzquiano, European Forest Institute</p><p><strong>Graphic design and visuals:</strong> Gabriela Rueda, European Forest Institute</p><p>⬇️Audio transcription available <a href="https://wildcard-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Episode8_Script_Cleaned.pdf⁠" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>: </p><p>Learn more about the WILDCARD project: ⁠<a href="www.wildcard-project.eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">www.wildcard-project.eu</a> ⁠</p><p>European Forest Institute:⁠ <a href="www.efi.int" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">www.efi.int</a> ⁠</p><p>Follow us also on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/wildcard-project">⁠WILDCARD project</a></p>

Episode thumbnail for Ep. 7: The invisible architects

June 26, 2026

Ep. 7: The invisible architects

<p>When catastrophic wildfire burns Mount Vesuvio, consuming 2,000 hectares in 2017, what survives beneath the ash? Soil ecologist Speranza Panico expected desolation. Instead, she discovered billions of microorganisms actively at work - breaking down charred material, releasing nutrients, rebuilding soil functionality.</p><p>This episode descends into the soil to reveal the true architects of rewilding. Sara Cazzaniga from ETH Zurich explains how bacteria and fungi form the hidden foundation of forest recovery. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria pull nutrients from the air. Mycorrhizal fungi extend tree roots far underground. Decomposers transform dead matter into living soil.</p><p>These billions of organisms work invisible to the human eye, yet they determine whether ecosystems recover or remain broken after disaster. Whether following catastrophic fire or agricultural abandonment, the same microscopic processesare rebuilding Europe&#39;s ecosystems from below.</p><p>Welcome to WILDCARD: The Forest Game, the scientific podcast that explores Europe&#39;s rewilding revolution through real ecological detective stories, uncovering how nature recovers when humans step back and observe.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CREDITS</strong></p><p>«WILDCARD. The Forest Game» is a podcast production written by Silvia Giralucci for the WILDCARD projectand Starter. </p><p><strong>Featuring:</strong> Speranza Panico, University of Udine and SaraCazzaniga ETH Zürich </p><p><strong>Scientific Supervisor: </strong>Giorgio Alberti, University of Udine</p><p><strong>Editorial Supervisor: </strong>Gesche Schifferdecker, European ForestInstitute </p><p><strong>Voice-over:</strong> Rahel Könen, European Forest Institute </p><p><strong>Post-production:</strong> Sara Uzquiano, European Forest Institute</p><p><strong>Graphic design and visuals:</strong> Gabriela Rueda, European Forest Institute</p><p>⬇️Audio transcription available <a href="https://wildcard-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Episode7_Script_Cleaned.pdf⁠ " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a></p><p>Learn more about the WILDCARD project: <a href="⁠www.wildcard-project.eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">⁠www.wildcard-project.eu</a> ⁠</p><p>European Forest Institute:⁠ <a href="www.efi.int" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">www.efi.int</a> ⁠</p><p>Follow us also on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/wildcard-project">⁠WILDCARD project</a></p>

Episode thumbnail for Ep. 6: When nature surprises us: the steppe that refused to become forest

June 26, 2026

Ep. 6: When nature surprises us: the steppe that refused to become forest

<p>For fifty years, Karel Prach returned to the same abandoned field in the Bohemian Karst expecting trees to gradually reclaim the land. Instead, nature had a completely different plan. Competitive grasses held their ground, and steppe species - rare plants adapted to dry grasslands - established themselves where forest should have grown.</p><p>This episode explores why secondary succession doesn&#39;t follow a single script. Climate, soil moisture, and surrounding ecosystems all shape the outcome. In this case, dry limestone hills transformed an abandoned field into something far more valuable for conservation: grassland habitat for endangeredspecies.</p><p>Karel&#39;s fifty-year study reminds us that nature often surprises us - and that the best science means observing patiently, letting nature work, and being ready to revise our expectations.</p><p>Welcome to WILDCARD: The Forest Game, the scientific podcast that explores Europe&#39;s rewilding revolution through real ecological detective stories, uncovering how nature recovers when humans step back and observe.</p><p><strong>CREDITS</strong></p><p>«WILDCARD. The Forest Game» is a podcast production written by Silvia Giralucci for the WILDCARD project and Starter. </p><p><strong>Featuring:</strong> Karel Prach, University of South Bohemia inČeské Budějovice and Giorgio Alberti, University of Udine. </p><p><strong>Scientific Supervisor: </strong>Giorgio Alberti, University of Udine</p><p><strong>Editorial Supervisor: </strong>Gesche Schifferdecker, European Forest Institute </p><p><strong>Voice-over:</strong> Rahel Könen, European Forest Institute </p><p><strong>Post-production:</strong> Sara Uzquiano, European Forest Institute</p><p><strong>Graphic design and visuals:</strong> Gabriela Rueda, European Forest Institute</p><p>⬇️Audiotranscription available <a href="https://wildcard-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Episode6_Script_Cleaned.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a></p><p>Learn more about the WILDCARD project: ⁠<a href="www.wildcard-project.eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">www.wildcard-project.eu</a> ⁠</p><p>European Forest Institute:⁠ <a href="www.efi.int" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">www.efi.int</a> ⁠</p><p>Follow us also on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/wildcard-project">⁠WILDCARD project</a></p>

9 total episodes available

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What is Wildcard: The Forest Game - A scientific adventure across Europe's hidden forests?

What if rewilding Europe were a strategic board game where every forest hides a secret, and every move shapes the future of our ecosystems? 

Welcome to an extraordinary audio journey that transforms the complex world of ecological restoration into an immersive, continent-spanning adventure. 

Guided by expert researchers and scientists, the podcast dives into the investigative work of identifying true wilderness, explores the delicate balance between conservation and human needs, and highlights innovative strategies that restore ecosystems to their full complexity. 

🌐 wildcard-project.eu

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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