Tim Badman

Special Advisor, World Heritage - IUCN

Today’s Date: 14 August 2008

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

There has not been one "seminal" moment, but probably as an 1 year old wading up the short river Lym in Dorset from its mouth to its source (or in fact until the water reached over my wellies) was the earliest adventure in wild ... As it seemed then ...

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

The Lyme Regis-Axmouth Undercliffs Nature Reserve in the UK

Now? So many places, but nothing beats the Dorset Coast although bobbing around under Golden Cap in a sea kayak is the real perfection

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

Cuttlefish ... An animal you can meet while diving that reminds you that underwater there are a lot of smarter brains than you around when it comes to survival

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?

The biggest challenge has always been, and always will be getting the environment to be a real concern of decision takers .. And that means a real concern of the public ... So engaging people with nature is the challenge ... Everything else flows from that and nothing is sustained without it.

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

I am a geologist, the point that gets humanity in perspective is to remember that for >99% of the earth's history we have not been part of the picture.. So advice: remember that we have only been on this planet for a tiny number of years. Despite the damage we are doing, we are more vulnerable than it is.