Sergio Savoia

Director of the WWF European Alpine Programme

Today’s Date: 27th July 2006

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

I was born in a small mountain village in the Swiss Alps. Nature was never far away. I guess the imposing beauty of the mountains did it for me.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

There was this huge waterfall near my house. It was crashing down from up in the mountains to form a little mist-shrouded lake. A rickety wooden bridge crossed it. I loved to sit on the bridge, my legs swinging and feel the vaporized water on my face.

Now? There is a place in southern Italy where I regularly go on vacation. It is a country dirt road lined with rosemary bushes and this big old oak tree. I like to go there and sit in its shade.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?

Wolves are my favourite. And they are slowly repopulating the Alps, which makes me (and not only me) really happy.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

Unfortunately there are so many of them. If I had to single one out, I would say global warming is the worse threat

5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Please change your attitude. We must stop thinking that damaging the environment is bad for animals and plants. It is actually bad, even lethal, for mankind. We do not exist outside the environment, we can't live
without Nature.