Participants
Dr. Stephen Fitch: Co-founder, Accelerated Restoration Collaborative
Isabella Madrid Malo: Content Manager at Dots.eco
What is this episode about?
In this episode, Isabella speaks with Dr. Stephen Fitch, the Co-founder of Accelerated Restoration Collaborative (ARC), about the intersection of social and environmental sustainability. Steve shares the incredible work ARC is doing to restore ecosystems, provide meaningful employment to local communities, and the challenges and opportunities that come with this approach. They also discuss how businesses and individuals can drive positive change and the role of storytelling in making sustainability accessible and impactful.
This discussion fits within our wider analysis of NGO partnerships and biodiversity governance.
Questions covered
- How was ARC created? What’s your origin story in the environmental sector?
- How do you see social and environmental sustainability merging through the work you do?
- What challenges do you face when trying to protect and restore landscapes?
- Tell us about the people from the ground. What is the role of each stakeholder involved in your mission?
- What do you think is the role of businesses when it comes to sustainability?
- What can we do as individuals to add our part?
- How can people connect with you/ARC?
Podcast Audio
Podcast Transcript
Isabella:
Hello everyone. Welcome to the Land, Oceans, and Business Podcast. The last few episodes have all been about sustainability and business, but today we’re changing things up a bit. We are starting a series of episodes with our environmental partners. Today, we have Dr. Stephen Fitch, but as he just told me, he prefers to be called Steve. He’s the CEO and co-founder of Accelerated Restoration Collaborative, also known as ARC. ARC is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing ecosystems, focusing on the restoration of forests, wildlife habitats, and giving jobs to local communities. We’ll be talking about the incredible job that ARC is doing and learning how their methods are creating long-lasting results for both local communities and ecosystems. So with this intro said, welcome, Steve. We’re so happy to have you here on the Land, Oceans, and Business Podcast.
Steve:
Oh, thank you, Isabella. Wish I was in Rome with you. Beautiful.
Isabella:
Amazing. Steve, so to warm things up, how was ARC created? What’s your origin story in the environmental sector?
Steve:
Well, I’ve been in the sector for a little over 20 years now, and it all began, oddly, I was volunteering extensively in traditional development projects in Ethiopia and became quite close friends with the president of the Southern People’s region. I always say it this way—one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to ask a politician, “How can I help you?” because we’d already built hospitals, clinics, and schools, and so many other things, but he asked me to take over a restoration project that was fully funded and expertly led. However, after three years, there were no surviving trees. For whatever reason, he believed that I had the capacity to raise money and organize people. So, bottom line, it started that way. The actual methodology that I’ll talk about later came from my doctoral studies.
Isabella:
Okay. Fantastic. Thank you so much, Steve. It’s a great story. I think taking on a project and then building what you have been building with ARC is beautiful. I can’t wait to learn more about it. As you said, you’ll get into the methodology a bit later, but I’m excited to hear more. So, with ARC, you are merging both social and environmental sustainability. How do you see them coming together through your work?
Steve:
Well, I think it’s essential to recognize that humans are part of the ecosystem. There are cynics who would say the fastest way to restore the world is to get rid of all the people. That’s real cheery. Let’s not do that. Let’s learn to work cooperatively together. In the model that came out of my doctoral studies, we now call it “Employ to Restore.” It really means providing the dignity of employment to people who, in most cases, have never had a cash-paying job in their lives. They frequently live off the local environment, making just enough to barely survive. The employment factor removes that desperation, which often leads to environmental destruction.
For instance, with the original project in Ethiopia, the reason it failed after three years was because the organizers weren’t paying the workers at all. They required them to work in the nursery and plant trees. But I don’t think many people would like to be forced to work for free. So, bottom line, we’re part of the ecosystem. When we work well together, the ecosystem can thrive as a whole.
Isabella:
Absolutely. You mentioned something very important here—the idea that humans should be removed from the equation to let the Earth thrive is unrealistic. The reality is that we are here, and populations are growing, which leads to inequality across the globe. Many of the communities you’re working with come from lower-income backgrounds. The goal is to bring them into environmentalism, train them, give them the tools to give back to the planet, but also to improve their own livelihoods. It’s about finding the sweet spot between both. I think that’s the work ARC is doing. Would you agree?
Steve:
It is, and you used the word “utopian.” Maybe “dystopian” is the word I’d use. The challenge right now is that wealthy Western developed nations are asking other nations to stop cutting down their trees. But there’s a bit of hypocrisy there, right? Look at the first arrivals in America, where they said a squirrel could jump from tree to tree across half the country. I’ve driven across that area many times now, and unless that squirrel can jump 10-15 miles at a stretch, it’s not happening anymore. So, bottom line, we can work well together, and we do have the financial resources to make this possible. It’s not beyond our capacity.
Isabella:
Interesting. So, Steve, my next question is about the challenges you face. As your impact grows, I imagine the challenges do too. You’ve been in the field for over 20 years, so you’re very familiar with the difficulties of protecting and restoring landscapes. Can you share some of the challenges you face?
Steve:
There are so many challenges, and they vary from one ecosystem, nation, and culture to another. For example, in the mangrove ecosystems I’ve worked with, many areas were turned into fish ponds and shrimp ponds, but they became so toxic from the waste that nothing will grow there without total soil restoration. But in areas where mangroves have simply been deforested, it’s easier, though still not simple. Then you have dry forest systems in Madagascar or Brazil, where the soil quality is poor, and fire is another challenge. But one of the biggest challenges is dealing with people who’ve lived in extreme poverty. For them, trying something new is a huge risk. If the restoration doesn’t work, they don’t have a backup food crop. The key is to gain the trust and respect of local populations, make it worth their while, and help them succeed.
Isabella:
So, what kind of communities do you work with on the ground? Are these small towns or indigenous communities?
Steve:
It varies. For instance, we’re working in mangrove estuaries in Madagascar next to Mahajanga, a regional capital. But most of the time, we work with rural communities, often specific indigenous groups or mixed indigenous communities. Our goal is to restore large landscape projects that make a significant regional environmental difference.
Isabella:
I can imagine. So, regarding the stakeholders involved in these projects, could you tell us more about the different types of stakeholders and their role in making this positive impact happen?
Steve:
There are many stakeholders. The ones that really matter are the local communities. In many developing nations, political structures and infrastructure are either non-existent or ineffective in remote areas. So, the stakeholders that make the real difference are the people who are directly involved—those in the nursery, planting the trees, and protecting them. I have to say, the women we work with are incredible. They are responsible and hard-working. They take the money entrusted to them and use it wisely, often putting their kids in school. The men do the same most of the time, but there are more exceptions.
Isabella:
I fully agree with you there, Steve. It’s great to see the focus on women as key stakeholders. But what about the larger corporate sponsors or donors? What role do businesses play in sustainability?
Steve:
I tend to think differently from most people around me, and sometimes that’s good and sometimes not so good. But here’s my take—businesses need to ditch the buzzwords. Terms like “sustainability” and “carbon capture” are overused, and they don’t speak to the average person. Instead, businesses should focus on telling real, human stories. The story of two people in a village planting trees and sending their kids to school is much more relatable than corporate jargon. It’s all about being positive and holistic.
Isabella:
I love that. I believe storytelling is key in connecting people with sustainability efforts. When people can relate to a story, they’re more likely to get involved.
Steve:
Exactly. And you mentioned coral reefs. I grew up in the Philippines, and I’ve seen the destruction of coral reefs firsthand. But what I’ve learned is that it’s not that hard to grow coral. If you get the chemistry right, it’s fairly easy. We can restore ecosystems like coral reefs and forests.
Isabella:
Absolutely. It all depends on having the right systems and processes in place. At Dots.eco, we focus on making sure the work we support is transparent and impactful, which is why we’re so proud to work with ARC.
Steve:
And it’s partnerships like this that can really make a difference. If we can inspire people, especially younger generations, to get involved, we can create a movement that leads to real change.
Isabella:
That’s the dream, Steve. And I think it’s achievable, especially with Gen Z and Millennials leading the way. They’re already showing a strong preference for sustainable brands. The future is looking bright.
Steve:
It is! And it’s all about shifting the mindset. People need to stop waiting for governments or mega-groups to fix the world. It’s time for a people-powered movement.
Isabella:
I completely agree. So, Steve, before we wrap up, how can people get in touch with you or ARC if they want to support the great work you’re doing?
Steve:
It’s really easy. Our website is www.arcrestoration.org. But also, jump in and support Dots.eco, and let’s figure out ways to work together. We can make a big difference.
Isabella:
Thank you so much, Steve. This conversation has been fantastic. I know you could go on for hours about this, but we’ve covered so much valuable information. I’m excited to see how we can continue to work together.
Steve:
My privilege, and I look forward to hanging out in Rome or California.
Isabella:
Absolutely. Thank you, Steve.
Steve:
Thank you. Bye-bye.
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