Returning to my roots with KM Reyes

In this We As Nature podcast episode, we are joined by National Geographic Explorer and political scientist KM Reyes, whose passion for conservation by respecting Indigenous land rights contributed to the protection of a vast area of critical habitat on the stunningly biodiverse Palawan Island in the Philippines. KM’s story is one of self-discovery through global exploration, where the experience of being lost and unsure of her place in the world took her on an unmapped journey that led her to find clarity of purpose and a sense of belonging. In KM’s We As Nature story, she shares: • The impact of growing up as a first-generation Australian, born to Filipino parents. • How the question ‘What am I?’ sparked a journey of connection to herself through Yoga, and marked the beginning of her connection to the natural world. • The decision to drop out of university and embark on a global adventure. How learning multiple languages opened up doors to connect with other cultures and paved the way for her career to unfold. • The realisations gleaned from time spent working with communities affected by narco-trafficking in Latin America. • From human rights to environmental rights and how working with people led to working with the planet. • Her experience of both exclusion and inclusion, based on racial identity. • Returning to her roots and finding a place of belonging on Palawan Island, the Philippines. About KM KM Reyes is a conservation lobbyist, community organiser, and National Geographic Explorer, based on Palawan island, the Philippines. She was born and raised in Australia to Filipino parents, lived and worked in Europe, Latin America, and North Africa, before finally deciding to return to her roots in the Philippines. KM is Co-Founder & Advisor of the environmental non-government organisation, Centre for Sustainability PH, Inc. Their Mission is to conserve the Philippines’ last remaining 3% of pristine rainforest through the legal establishment of national parks. Find out more about KM’s work: • The Centre For Sustainability PH - https://centreforsustainabilityph.org/ • Twitter -   / karinamay_reyes   • Instagram -   / karinamay_reyes   • 30 x 30 South-East Asia - https://30x30sea.org/ The We As Nature podcast is brought to you by Flourishing Diversity and recorded live during a free monthly online gathering. You can find out more and register for our upcoming We As Nature events here - https://flourishingdiversity.com/events/