Patricio Novoa

Jefe de Horticultura, Jardín Botánico Nacional, Viña del Mar, Chile [Head of Horticulture, National Botanical Garden, Vine of the Sea, Chile]

Today's Date: 29 August 2006

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

Cuando tenía 10 años de edad, hacía vacaciones, en el campo de un tío en el sur de Chile y veia la destrucción de los bosques de Robles para abrir terreno para la actividad agrícola y ganadera y esa experiencia de vida en el campo y destrucción de bosques me marcó para toda la vida. [When it had 10 years of age, vacations ago, in the field of an uncle in the south of Chile and veia the destruction of the forests of Oaks to open to land for the agricultural and cattle activity and that experience of life in the field and destruction of forests marked me for all the life.]

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

Curarehue, al interior de Pucón, en el sur de Chile. [Curarehue, to the interior of Pucón, in the south of Chile.]

Now? Pucón. [Pucón]

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

no tengo animal favotito. [I do not have favotito animal.]

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?

La destrucción de los bosques tropicales y los bosques templados, el gran cambio será de tipo climático. [The destruction of the tropical forests and the forests temperings, the great change will be of climatic type.]

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

Hay que socuializar el conocimiento de la naturaleza, de la flora, la fauna y su ambiente a nivel de detalle, especialmente la flora que esta demasiado "underrated" [It is necessary to socuializar the knowledge of the nature, of the flora, the fauna and its atmosphere at detail level, specially the flora that this too much "underrated"]

[translations done using Babel Fish Translations, http://babelfish.altavista.com]