Robin Le Breton

Director, Iracambi Atlantic Rainforest Research and Conservation Center

Today’s Date: 7 July 2008

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

I was born on a farm in the middle of Africa: I live on a farm in the middle of Brazil - animals and nature all around me, all my life

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

yes there was a place on our farm I used to go to..

Now? of course - though I seldom have time to go there!

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

elephants - why? dunno - they’re clever- guess I feel sorry for them because their future is bleak

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?

Roughly speaking, Americans & Europeans constitute 12% of the world’s population and use 60% of its resources. We all want to have the living standards of the Americans - it's impossible - the world doesn't have that many resources. One American uses 6 times the resources of one Chinese. Each Chinese wants to live like an American. What will happen if they do? Is this what we should be working towards?

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

Ask yourself why Man should be the only exception to the basic rule of nature that every creature may take from nature exactly what it needs to satisfy its physical needs