The Audio Long Read Best of 2025 … so far: the great abandonment: what happens to the natural world when people disappear?
Aug 6, 2025
Explore the intriguing phenomenon of 'The Great Abandonment' and its surprising effects on biodiversity. Discover the abandoned Bulgarian village of Turkmen, confronting rural depopulation and its repercussions. Delve into the quiet transformation of lands left to nature, highlighting an ecologist's captivating research. Witness how wildlife thrived during lockdown, challenging long-held beliefs about human impact on ecosystems. This discussion advocates for a rethinking of how we engage with the natural world, emphasizing resilience and coexistence.
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Slow Abandonment in Turkmen Village
- Turkmen, Bulgaria, was once a thriving village of 1,200 but now has fewer than 200 residents.
- Empty homes and closed shops mark the slow, creeping abandonment of this community.
Vast Scale of Global Land Abandonment
- Since the 1950s, abandoned land globally totals near the size of the EU, highlighting a massive shift.
- Population shifts and climate impact will continue to drive this abandonment, with major ecological consequences.
Nature's Recovery Is Complex
- Popular belief assumes nature will recover perfectly if humans disappear.
- But actual ecological recovery is complex and often diverges from simple succession models.
