John A Burton

CEO, World Land Trust (www.worldlandtrust.org)

Today’s Date: 3 December 2007

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

Far too many to list, but first memorable one was age 6, discovering a lizard (Lacerta vivipara) in my sand pit. Since then numerous others, dependent on time, place and circumstances. Wildlife and nature have simply had the biggest impact on my life than any other.

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

Depends on how you define childhood. But from 9-15 it would have been a local oak-wood, after that a sewage farm (birdwatching)

Now? Dry Chaco of Paraguay

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

Have never had a favourite but tend to side with the unloved animals of the world – amphibians, reptiles, bats etc. Have a special passion for European Brown Hare

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?

a) human population
b) human population

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

Persuade governments that human population increase is a very serious threat.