Jorge Albuquerque

Associacao Montanha Viva www.montanhaviva.blogspot.com

Today's Date: Feb 8 2007

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

A Peregrine Falcon in my earliest days as a Biology Student. I used to watch a few wintering falcon in my home Town Porto Alegre in South Brazil while did my college. Theses interactions were quite strong and shaped my life as a conservation Biologist.

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

I lived in a big city. the only outdoor type of place was a field where we play soccer.

Now? Well, now I like to spend hours in field work searching for hawk eagles in the Serra Geral area in Santa Catarina ( www.projetogavioesdepenacho.blogspot.com). Also I have a small property covered of rain forest near my home in Florianopolis, a great place to bird watch and think about life.

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

My favorite animal is the Great Kisskadee because it reminds me of my childhood in Porto Alegre.

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?

I would say that the major challenge is to try to teach people to change their view of how to prosper. The agroindustry in Brazil is destroying all the remnants of forests and wild open areas. Burning large areas, they contribute to global warming.

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

Try to remain simple and follow a humble life without a cascade of consumism.. Respect and fight to protect the last sanctuaries in our planet, either near or far away from you.

I also have another blog where I write about this type of subject: www.mataatlanticasc.blogspot.com visit it!!!