Legal Action for Nature with Dr. Jacob Phelps

The health of our environment underpins everything from food systems to future medicines, yet much of the damage done to nature goes unaddressed. This week on Foodie Pharmacology, Dr. Cassandra Quave speaks with Jacob Phelps about a new approach to conservation that brings science into the courtroom. Together, they explore how environmental litigation can move beyond small fines and toward holding offenders accountable for restoring damaged ecosystems, from illegal mining and deforestation to wildlife trafficking. The conversation highlights the gap between strong environmental laws on paper and their limited use in practice, and how interdisciplinary teams of scientists and lawyers are working to change that. From protecting biodiversity and safeguarding food systems to preserving resources that may hold future therapeutic value, this episode offers a powerful look at how legal action can be used as a tool to defend and repair the natural world. Learn more at https://www.conservation-litigation.org/