223. How Dr. James Danoff-Burg Helped Stop Poachers Without Guns

Happy New Year! Hope your 2026 is off to a great start! 

We have a special episode for you today. Matt speaks with Dr. James Danoff-Burg about innovative, community-centered conservation in South Africa. Dr. Danoff-Burg is a conservation biologist with The Living Desert, where he works on wildlife conservation, education, and global anti-poaching initiatives. He discusses the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, their unarmed, all-female patrol model, and how this approach has dramatically reduced illegal hunting and rhino poaching.

Learn all about The Living Desert online at: www.livingdesert.org

Want to boast to your friends about trees named after you? Help us plant 30k trees? Only a few trees left! Visit aclimatechange.com/trees to learn more

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Dr. James Danoff-Burg Bio:

Dr. James Danoff-Burg is a conservation leader and storyteller focused on community-led wildlife protection. He has worked closely with the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit in South Africa, highlighting innovative, unarmed conservation models that empower women, reduce illegal hunting, and redefine how education and presence can protect biodiversity for future generations globally.

Episode Resources

• Dr. James Danoff-Burg website: https://www.livingdesert.org/
• Matt Matern on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ACClinkedin
• A Climate Change on Apple: https://bit.ly/accapplepodcast
• A Climate Change on Spotify: https://bit.ly/accspotifypodcast
• A Climate Change on YouTube: https://bit.ly/ACCvids