
Nature Positive Impact
The September/October 2023 issue
In this issue we put the spotlight on business as a catalyst for change with the theme ‘Nature Positive Impact’ and explore how ecology and people should be at the heart of the economy. In her article, Sophie Wisbrun-Overakker explains why business needs to recognise the interconnectedness of all things, and business guru Paul Polman, co-author of the book Net Positive, looks at how business can and must perform within planetary boundaries.
The Ecologist pages feature a report from Matthew Traver on the restoration of a desiccated landscape that was once the Aral Sea into a verdant forest, complete with honey gardens, and in Connected Life, Annabel Heseltine travels to Socotra in the north-west Indian Ocean and discovers the plight of the dragon’s blood tree.
In The Slow Read, political writer Mark Seddon explores the rise of a new world order. He looks at the quiet revolution shifting the power away from the US and over to China and the other BRICS countries, which is something change-makers cannot afford to ignore.
In Wisdom and Wellbeing, Stephanie Boxall discovers how we can easily deepen our relationship with Nature simply by learning to ‘read’ the clues and signs around us. Our Art & Culture pages introduce a collection of Wild Writings, and in Reviews, Satish Kumar pays tribute to three high-profile authors – Isabella Tree, Charlie Burrell and Ben Goldsmith – pioneers of the growing movement for rewilding, which is fast gaining traction.
We hope you enjoy our selection of free articles from this issue of Resurgence & Ecologist magazine.
To read the issue in full, purchase a print or pdf magazine, or join The Resurgence Trust to receive 6 issues a year, with free access to the complete archive.
Featured articles from the latest issue of Resurgence & Ecologist magazine

Rewilding the Aral Sea
Matthew Traver reports on a glimmer of hope amidst
the decades-long ecological catastrophe that destroyed the Aral Sea
on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The UN Development
Programme’s ‘Green Aral Sea initiative’ aims to transform the
entire former seabed into a verdant forest.
Read more...

Saving a Species
Annabel Heseltine travels to Socotra in the north-west Indian Ocean and
discovers the plight of the dragon’s blood tree. The tree can live
for 800 years, but takes 100 years to reach maturity. Without
immediate help it faces extinction.
Read more...

Ripples of Positive Impact
Business can be a force for good. Sophie Wisbrun-Overakker, a
Nature Positive Impact Change Catalyst and one
of the respected business voices calling for radical change, explains
why the move to regenerative business is imperative and presents
some of the steps that businesses can take.
Read more...

Ethics and Business
Satish Kumar considers the seismic shifts needed to move towards a business
model that serves the interests of Nature, society, workers and
shareholders. As a starting point, ecological ethics require us to
shift our minds from the idea of ownership to that of relationship.
Read more...

Heartful Hawthorn
Brigit Anna McNeill, writer, ecotherapist and herbalist, shares her
reflections on the hawthorn tree and its changing offerings
throughout the year. “Hawthorn helps us honour who we truly are at
our core. Matching both strength and softness, it shows us the
innate, wild ability to cultivate healthy boundaries as well as gentleness.”
Read more...

Everything the Light Touches
Vandana K speaks with award-winning writer Janice Pariat, whose latest book
Everything the Light Touches challenges the idea that humans are
the darlings of creation. The book asks questions centred on our
relationship with our planet, including,
“Why are we obsessed with objectifying the abundance that exists in
Nature?” and “Is there a more wholesome way to interact with it?”
Read more...
Picture Credits
Cover image: Illustration by Marian F. Moratinos; Rewilding the Aral Sea: Planting saxaul © UNDP Uzbekistan; Saving a species: Photo © Andrew Svk / Unsplash; Ripples of Positive Impact: Illustration by Marian F. Moratinos; Ethics and business: Delicado, 2021 by Benjamin Briones Grandi; Heartful hawthorn: Photo by Brigit Anna McNeill; Everything the light touches: Artwork by Chitra Merchant