International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Today's Date: 30 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I was a student of Entomology in my master degree and we were supposed to collect specimen for our practical. When we collected the diverse insects and fascinating butterflies from Darjeeling district of the state of West Bengal, India; I realized that Darjeeling is a paradise for biological diversity. This realization encouraged me to be a conservationist.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The panoramic view of Mount Kangchenjunga that could be seen from my home town Kurseong in Darjeeling use to inspire me every day.
Now? The wilderness areas of Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan Himalayas are favorite to me.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is my favorite due to their cute size, shape and colour and their shy and gentle behavior.
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?
Human population rise and their greedy behavior is the greatest challenge for us now and our development and well-being hunger without understanding and considering the nature’s resilience power could bring more challenges in future.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Be happy and satisfy yourself on what you have and convinced others to do so by your practice.
Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!
January 08, 2009
Jeffrey A. McNeely
Chief Scientist – IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature)
Today’s Date: 28 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I am unable to answer this question, as I have had so many impacts with animals and nature that none can be singled out. I spent six years working in the Los Angeles Zoo, 12 years working in Asia on conservation-related issues (7 years in Thailand, 3 years in Indonesia, and 2 years in Nepal). And since 1980, I have been traveling widely throughout the world on various conservation issues. The totality of this experience is what has kept me in the conservation business.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Now? I did not have a favourite place in the great outdoors during my childhood, and I have several now. One is Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, a place that still ranks at the top of my list for a wildlife spectacle. Others include Bali in Indonesia; the big island of Hawaii; Chitwan National Park in Nepal; and the Barun Khola in Nepal.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
My favourite animal is the orang-utan. When I was a zoo keeper, I had seven baby orang-utans to take care of, and working in Indonesia I saw many of them in the wild. They appeal to me because of their innate sense of humour, and the magnificence of the adult males (who are no longer so humorous!).
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 greatest environmental challenge facing us today is habitat destruction, which can be phrased in several other ways as well, such as "the expansion of the human ecological footprint", "the expansion of the human ecological niche", "over-exploitation", and so forth. In the future, climate change is likely to overtake habitat destruction, or rather make it even worse.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
The one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources is to do everything possible to minimize your ecological footprint. We all must find ways to walk lightly on the land.
Nature)
Today’s Date: 28 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I am unable to answer this question, as I have had so many impacts with animals and nature that none can be singled out. I spent six years working in the Los Angeles Zoo, 12 years working in Asia on conservation-related issues (7 years in Thailand, 3 years in Indonesia, and 2 years in Nepal). And since 1980, I have been traveling widely throughout the world on various conservation issues. The totality of this experience is what has kept me in the conservation business.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Now? I did not have a favourite place in the great outdoors during my childhood, and I have several now. One is Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, a place that still ranks at the top of my list for a wildlife spectacle. Others include Bali in Indonesia; the big island of Hawaii; Chitwan National Park in Nepal; and the Barun Khola in Nepal.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
My favourite animal is the orang-utan. When I was a zoo keeper, I had seven baby orang-utans to take care of, and working in Indonesia I saw many of them in the wild. They appeal to me because of their innate sense of humour, and the magnificence of the adult males (who are no longer so humorous!).
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 greatest environmental challenge facing us today is habitat destruction, which can be phrased in several other ways as well, such as "the expansion of the human ecological footprint", "the expansion of the human ecological niche", "over-exploitation", and so forth. In the future, climate change is likely to overtake habitat destruction, or rather make it even worse.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
The one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources is to do everything possible to minimize your ecological footprint. We all must find ways to walk lightly on the land.
Zoltan KUN
Executive Director - PAN Parks Foundation
Today’s Date: 26 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I can mention two interactions with landscape:
1) Staying on top of a mountain in North of Sweden, looking around and seeing no sign of human existence. The wilderness feel was amazing
2) Staying in a wilderness hut in Slovakia having no access to ordinary things like electricity, tap water and gas. Staying in this hut for 5 days had a great effect on my behaviour.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Not, but I always wanted to work for WWF, the conservation organization
Now? - Julian Alps in Slovenia (particularly the part protected within the Triglav National Park)
- Slovensky raj National Park of Slovakia
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
House cat and Dolphin because both symbolise freedom for me!
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 greatest challenge currently is to convince people about the urgency of acting on climate change
The future problem will be the disappearing wilderness areas. Developers are looking at this last places to change them. If we let them enter and develop in this areas, we will loose the last pieces of earth, which is "unmakeable"!
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Don't travel that much to far away destinations, but discover the wonders around yourself!
Today’s Date: 26 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I can mention two interactions with landscape:
1) Staying on top of a mountain in North of Sweden, looking around and seeing no sign of human existence. The wilderness feel was amazing
2) Staying in a wilderness hut in Slovakia having no access to ordinary things like electricity, tap water and gas. Staying in this hut for 5 days had a great effect on my behaviour.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Not, but I always wanted to work for WWF, the conservation organization
Now? - Julian Alps in Slovenia (particularly the part protected within the Triglav National Park)
- Slovensky raj National Park of Slovakia
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
House cat and Dolphin because both symbolise freedom for me!
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 greatest challenge currently is to convince people about the urgency of acting on climate change
The future problem will be the disappearing wilderness areas. Developers are looking at this last places to change them. If we let them enter and develop in this areas, we will loose the last pieces of earth, which is "unmakeable"!
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Don't travel that much to far away destinations, but discover the wonders around yourself!
Brian Finlayson
Department of Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne
Today’s Date: 27 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Good Heavens! How can I answer such a broad question? The interaction with an animal that had most impact on me was my Samoyed dog 'Kim' with whom I lived for fifteen years. Possibly the biggest nature impact was growing up on the Fitzroy River in Central Queensland - fishing, canoeing, camping, sailing etc.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
See above. The Fitzroy River.
Now? Probably the same though now I have a bigger boat and can go further out to sea.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
The dog. See above.
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?
Our biggest challenge now is our failure to develop and implement sound and sensible policies for the management of the environment. Right now we have become sidetracked with a focus on climate change. Climate has always been changing and the natural environment can handle it. Just look at what we are in the process of doing now. Setting up carbon emissions trading so that the urban fat cats can make a lot of money while the real issues of environmental management will still not be dealt with. Take, for example, the flows in rivers. The impacts we already have on river flows - and consequent impacts on the ecology of rivers - are much greater than anything that will occur through climate change short of the arrival of the next glacial period. Since the changes we have already made are linked up with market based uses of water (irrigation, urban water supplies, etc) nothing much will be done to alleviate the impacts from those pressures but we will all stand around and wring our hands about global climate change. The greatest challenge for the future? To be able to manage productive activities that impact on environmental services in such a way as to allow the full functioning of those services.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Recognise that we have developed an economic system in which we permit the costs of environmental degradation arising from productive activities to be externalised onto global society at large. The costs of environmental degradation should be met by the activities that cause them.
Today’s Date: 27 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Good Heavens! How can I answer such a broad question? The interaction with an animal that had most impact on me was my Samoyed dog 'Kim' with whom I lived for fifteen years. Possibly the biggest nature impact was growing up on the Fitzroy River in Central Queensland - fishing, canoeing, camping, sailing etc.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
See above. The Fitzroy River.
Now? Probably the same though now I have a bigger boat and can go further out to sea.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
The dog. See above.
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?
Our biggest challenge now is our failure to develop and implement sound and sensible policies for the management of the environment. Right now we have become sidetracked with a focus on climate change. Climate has always been changing and the natural environment can handle it. Just look at what we are in the process of doing now. Setting up carbon emissions trading so that the urban fat cats can make a lot of money while the real issues of environmental management will still not be dealt with. Take, for example, the flows in rivers. The impacts we already have on river flows - and consequent impacts on the ecology of rivers - are much greater than anything that will occur through climate change short of the arrival of the next glacial period. Since the changes we have already made are linked up with market based uses of water (irrigation, urban water supplies, etc) nothing much will be done to alleviate the impacts from those pressures but we will all stand around and wring our hands about global climate change. The greatest challenge for the future? To be able to manage productive activities that impact on environmental services in such a way as to allow the full functioning of those services.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Recognise that we have developed an economic system in which we permit the costs of environmental degradation arising from productive activities to be externalised onto global society at large. The costs of environmental degradation should be met by the activities that cause them.
Charles Ochieng
St. Christine Community Centre (Nairobi, Kenya)
Today’s Date: 25 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Zebra
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Football
Now? No answer given
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Cow
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?
Of course yes on how people should be littering and dispose.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Advice people how to, how to dispose the garbage and if the environment is untidy how it can affect us.
Today’s Date: 25 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Zebra
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Football
Now? No answer given
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Cow
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?
Of course yes on how people should be littering and dispose.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Advice people how to, how to dispose the garbage and if the environment is untidy how it can affect us.
Dr. Peter Coyne
(formerly) Planning Coordinator, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service - now retired
Today’s Date: 25 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Snorkeling with humpback whales. For four consecutive days we swam with the same mother and month-old calf. Mostly the mother rested about 60 feet down while the calf came up to the surface to breathe every few minutes, when it would often come to within a few metres of us to check us out. Mother would watch us from time to time and, satisfied we were not a threat to her calf, would then close her eyes and relax. When the calf was tired one day, the mother rested just below the surface so the calf could lie on her head and breathe without having to move more than a metre. Both mother and calf were very careful not to harm us when they were close enough to do so. Observing the strong emotional bond between mother and calf was a revelation; they are extremely intelligent and sensitive animals. This experience greatly increased my concern about commercial whaling, which requires these magnificent animals to die slowly in extreme agony. Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary aims to kill about 1000 whales each year for commercial butchering while pretending it is for research to sidestep the international ban on such activity.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The mountains
Now? Too hard to answer - I still love mountains but have found so many other wonderful natural areas.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Border collie dogs - they are incredibly intelligent, sensitive and communicative, unlike any other breed of dog or other animal I have known. They learn to understand a lot of language and interact with humans much like a 2-3 year old child. Without being able to say a word, mine answers questions very clearly, even questions I did not expect her to understand.
Favourite wild animal - many contenders but being wild is prerequisite.
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?
Climate change now and in the future. I greatly fear its impact on the very poor people in developing countries, who face increasing "natural" disasters such as
- permanent drought in some places causing mass mortality,
- increased flooding in other places (on a scale to kill millions of people in short-term floods and destroying the homelands of tens of millions more by rising sea levels),
- more frequent and severe storms,
- disruption of natural systems on which people depend ... and many more.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Do all you can to influence your national government to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The cost of acting now is much less than the cost of doing nothing. This is really urgent because the situation is worse than people realise and the official forecasts are much too conservative.
"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb
That is so true. Please pressure the US government to take climate change seriously and act urgently. Blocking international action is causing so much future harm.
Today’s Date: 25 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Snorkeling with humpback whales. For four consecutive days we swam with the same mother and month-old calf. Mostly the mother rested about 60 feet down while the calf came up to the surface to breathe every few minutes, when it would often come to within a few metres of us to check us out. Mother would watch us from time to time and, satisfied we were not a threat to her calf, would then close her eyes and relax. When the calf was tired one day, the mother rested just below the surface so the calf could lie on her head and breathe without having to move more than a metre. Both mother and calf were very careful not to harm us when they were close enough to do so. Observing the strong emotional bond between mother and calf was a revelation; they are extremely intelligent and sensitive animals. This experience greatly increased my concern about commercial whaling, which requires these magnificent animals to die slowly in extreme agony. Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary aims to kill about 1000 whales each year for commercial butchering while pretending it is for research to sidestep the international ban on such activity.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The mountains
Now? Too hard to answer - I still love mountains but have found so many other wonderful natural areas.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Border collie dogs - they are incredibly intelligent, sensitive and communicative, unlike any other breed of dog or other animal I have known. They learn to understand a lot of language and interact with humans much like a 2-3 year old child. Without being able to say a word, mine answers questions very clearly, even questions I did not expect her to understand.
Favourite wild animal - many contenders but being wild is prerequisite.
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?
Climate change now and in the future. I greatly fear its impact on the very poor people in developing countries, who face increasing "natural" disasters such as
- permanent drought in some places causing mass mortality,
- increased flooding in other places (on a scale to kill millions of people in short-term floods and destroying the homelands of tens of millions more by rising sea levels),
- more frequent and severe storms,
- disruption of natural systems on which people depend ... and many more.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Do all you can to influence your national government to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The cost of acting now is much less than the cost of doing nothing. This is really urgent because the situation is worse than people realise and the official forecasts are much too conservative.
"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb
That is so true. Please pressure the US government to take climate change seriously and act urgently. Blocking international action is causing so much future harm.
Loke-Ming CHOU
Professor – National University of Singapore
Today’s Date: 24 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Cats
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Grew up in a coastal village and simply loved the sea.
Now? Coral reefs - I find it very therapeutic to scuba dive at a reef.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
The horse. It is strong, muscular, regal, quiet and steady.
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?
Human behaviour remains the greatest challenge; has been so in the past and present and will continue to be in the future. 'Greed' overrides 'awareness'. For every one person who becomes aware of the need to protect biodiversity, twenty others will rampantly exploit and destroy it to fill their pockets.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Without nature, human survival is at risk.
Today’s Date: 24 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Cats
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Grew up in a coastal village and simply loved the sea.
Now? Coral reefs - I find it very therapeutic to scuba dive at a reef.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
The horse. It is strong, muscular, regal, quiet and steady.
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?
Human behaviour remains the greatest challenge; has been so in the past and present and will continue to be in the future. 'Greed' overrides 'awareness'. For every one person who becomes aware of the need to protect biodiversity, twenty others will rampantly exploit and destroy it to fill their pockets.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Without nature, human survival is at risk.
Dr. Markus Rösler
Naturschutzbund NABU, Bundesfachausschuss Streuobst und Bundesfachausschuss Großschutzgebiete (working groups on national level, being activ as well on european level concerning traditional orchards and large scale protected areas)
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
- growing up at the border of large scale traditional orchards ("Streuobstwiesen" = orchards with trees with high trunks - look to www.Streuobst.de) with ten thousands of different trees, with many different species of apples, pears, cherries, plums and eating them, different birds (woodpeckers...), the flowering of the trees in the spring and the self-made cider in the autumn.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes: under an old cherry-tree in these "Streuobstwiesen" - it`s cultivated land, but for me as child it was the favorite place to go outside.
Now? No answer given
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Okapi and Lynx Lynx and Aquila chrysaetos.
Okapi lives very hidden, very peaceful animal, symbol of being modest.
Lynx lynx prefers large scale areas without streets, middle mountains, "wild" forests, symbol of being independent.
Aquila has the overview over landscape, symbol for calmness, looking to the world from above, little bit a symbol of being able to see/understand, what really is important in the world.
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?
- Danger of using nuclear power - no place on the world for the waste over thousands of years and the danger to misuse it by military or terrorists.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Try to imagine or to look on the earth from the moon or the mars - and you should understand, what really is important.
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
- growing up at the border of large scale traditional orchards ("Streuobstwiesen" = orchards with trees with high trunks - look to www.Streuobst.de) with ten thousands of different trees, with many different species of apples, pears, cherries, plums and eating them, different birds (woodpeckers...), the flowering of the trees in the spring and the self-made cider in the autumn.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes: under an old cherry-tree in these "Streuobstwiesen" - it`s cultivated land, but for me as child it was the favorite place to go outside.
Now? No answer given
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Okapi and Lynx Lynx and Aquila chrysaetos.
Okapi lives very hidden, very peaceful animal, symbol of being modest.
Lynx lynx prefers large scale areas without streets, middle mountains, "wild" forests, symbol of being independent.
Aquila has the overview over landscape, symbol for calmness, looking to the world from above, little bit a symbol of being able to see/understand, what really is important in the world.
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?
- Danger of using nuclear power - no place on the world for the waste over thousands of years and the danger to misuse it by military or terrorists.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Try to imagine or to look on the earth from the moon or the mars - and you should understand, what really is important.
Alan White
Senior Scientist – The Nature Conservancy
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Living in the Galapagos Islands in 1971 and 1972 made me realize that nature in its almost pristine form is worth protecting.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, my own back yard and farm land in California where I could chase the coyotes, climb trees, watch our cat catch field mice and much more, it was my awakening to nature.
Now? The coral reef in front our house in the Philippines where we can swim and see an endless variety of creatures that are always changing and going through life processes.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
My favorite animal was my labrador dog when I was a kid. My favorite animal now is the dolphin because it seems to be able to master the sea, when given a chance, and because we as humans can learn from dolphins.
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 greatest challenge facing us right now is our own inability to make the changes we need to make in light of climate change, population growth and the more manageable impacts of human development related to pollution, deforestation and other issues.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Limit your family size, be sensitive to the impact you and your family have on the environment; and work with others to help promote the same message.
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Living in the Galapagos Islands in 1971 and 1972 made me realize that nature in its almost pristine form is worth protecting.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, my own back yard and farm land in California where I could chase the coyotes, climb trees, watch our cat catch field mice and much more, it was my awakening to nature.
Now? The coral reef in front our house in the Philippines where we can swim and see an endless variety of creatures that are always changing and going through life processes.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
My favorite animal was my labrador dog when I was a kid. My favorite animal now is the dolphin because it seems to be able to master the sea, when given a chance, and because we as humans can learn from dolphins.
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 greatest challenge facing us right now is our own inability to make the changes we need to make in light of climate change, population growth and the more manageable impacts of human development related to pollution, deforestation and other issues.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Limit your family size, be sensitive to the impact you and your family have on the environment; and work with others to help promote the same message.
John S. Marsh
Trent University
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Going camping and mountain climbing with the Boy Scouts
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes the "common" near my home in UK.
Now? Glacier Park, B.C.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Grizzly Bear, because we have to respect it more than most animals.
Labrador dog, because they respect humans more than other animals.
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?
Population growth and consumer lifestyle, now and future
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
learn to appreciate the magnificence of nature, then you will respect it and use it more carefully
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Going camping and mountain climbing with the Boy Scouts
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes the "common" near my home in UK.
Now? Glacier Park, B.C.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Grizzly Bear, because we have to respect it more than most animals.
Labrador dog, because they respect humans more than other animals.
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?
Population growth and consumer lifestyle, now and future
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
learn to appreciate the magnificence of nature, then you will respect it and use it more carefully
Mart Külvik
Professor - Estonian University of Life Sciences
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
beautiful landscapes
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
many places
Now? many places
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
No favourite 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?
to have tolerable living space for everyone in this World
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Make sure, that you consume and produce ONLY as much you REALLY need...
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
beautiful landscapes
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
many places
Now? many places
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
No favourite 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?
to have tolerable living space for everyone in this World
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Make sure, that you consume and produce ONLY as much you REALLY need...
Jan Jenik
Emer. Professor - Charles University, Prague
Today’s Date: 24 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Mountains´ geo-biodiversity and tropical rain forest’s biodiversity, which substantially impacted my private and professional life. With regard to animal life, the true understanding of non-human soul/substance came only when I started raising a pet dog (in my 60-year-long age)!
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I do not remember
Now? A few sites in European mountains where I succeeded to disclose hitherto unknown botanical and ecological phenomena.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
A dog, dog! It is a creature unlocking your mind to non-human life; possibly, other pets may have similar impact.
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?
Both now and in the future: To keep the human population at moderate size (no birth-rate increase!) and control sustainable environment (incl. the majority of biodiversity)
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Be modest in all requirements (food, materials, energy, space) and be helpful in wildlife conservation
Today’s Date: 24 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Mountains´ geo-biodiversity and tropical rain forest’s biodiversity, which substantially impacted my private and professional life. With regard to animal life, the true understanding of non-human soul/substance came only when I started raising a pet dog (in my 60-year-long age)!
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I do not remember
Now? A few sites in European mountains where I succeeded to disclose hitherto unknown botanical and ecological phenomena.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
A dog, dog! It is a creature unlocking your mind to non-human life; possibly, other pets may have similar impact.
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?
Both now and in the future: To keep the human population at moderate size (no birth-rate increase!) and control sustainable environment (incl. the majority of biodiversity)
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Be modest in all requirements (food, materials, energy, space) and be helpful in wildlife conservation
Sandra Kloff
IUCN CEESP
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Not any in particular. Nature sceneries have the biggest impact on me, more than an interaction with a particular species. I guess that my travel to Antarctica and the Sahara desert filled me with biggest awe.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Grew up in the city unfortunately but remember clearly the holidays to the coast of Portugal.
Now? Still the coast
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
I don’t have a particular animal that is my favorite. But in zoos I´m drawn to great cats and apes.
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?
Dealing with climate change. now and in the future. It will be a big challenge to find other energy sources than fossil fuels.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Do not rely on nature organisations to do the job. Invest in reducing your own environmental footprint. Try to be as self sufficient as it can be in terms of energy, food and water use.
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Not any in particular. Nature sceneries have the biggest impact on me, more than an interaction with a particular species. I guess that my travel to Antarctica and the Sahara desert filled me with biggest awe.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Grew up in the city unfortunately but remember clearly the holidays to the coast of Portugal.
Now? Still the coast
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
I don’t have a particular animal that is my favorite. But in zoos I´m drawn to great cats and apes.
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?
Dealing with climate change. now and in the future. It will be a big challenge to find other energy sources than fossil fuels.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Do not rely on nature organisations to do the job. Invest in reducing your own environmental footprint. Try to be as self sufficient as it can be in terms of energy, food and water use.
Adrian Phillips
Director General of the UK Countryside Commission (1981-1992) and Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (1994-2000)
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
the first mind blowing experience of going on safari, and especially being near large animals when camping, in Kenya at the age of 34 with my wife and two young boys.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The Isles of Scilly, off the far south west of England - for peace, nature, beauty and a sense of the vastness of the oceans
Now? same - though there are many other places that offer other things
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
domestically my ginger cat - in the wild, cheetahs, the most beautiful hunting machines
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?
climate change - and humanity's inability to adapt its behaviour to environmental limits.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
there is only one earth and we have no where else to go.
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
the first mind blowing experience of going on safari, and especially being near large animals when camping, in Kenya at the age of 34 with my wife and two young boys.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The Isles of Scilly, off the far south west of England - for peace, nature, beauty and a sense of the vastness of the oceans
Now? same - though there are many other places that offer other things
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
domestically my ginger cat - in the wild, cheetahs, the most beautiful hunting machines
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?
climate change - and humanity's inability to adapt its behaviour to environmental limits.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
there is only one earth and we have no where else to go.
Elery Hamilton-Smith
Chair - IUCN/WCPA Task Force on Caves and Karst
Today's Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Meeting and interacting with live tigers in the jungle
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Various ones
Now? Again, Many of them
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I think probably tigers – intelligent, inquisitive and gentle animals
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?
Human Greed and Stupidity.
As Einstein said –“There only two things in the world that do not change – the laws of gravity and human stupidity – and I’m not really certain about gravity!”
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
It is the most important thing in our world, and so needs every care to be devoted to it.
Today's Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Meeting and interacting with live tigers in the jungle
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Various ones
Now? Again, Many of them
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I think probably tigers – intelligent, inquisitive and gentle animals
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?
Human Greed and Stupidity.
As Einstein said –“There only two things in the world that do not change – the laws of gravity and human stupidity – and I’m not really certain about gravity!”
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
It is the most important thing in our world, and so needs every care to be devoted to it.
David Ritchie
Conservation Land Corporation
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
killing a warm blooded animal
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Coastal environments (esp. dunes and exposed reefs) Ottway National Park
Victoria
Now? Probably the same
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Polar bear
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?
valuing the environment within national accounts.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
keep big natural systems intact
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
killing a warm blooded animal
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Coastal environments (esp. dunes and exposed reefs) Ottway National Park
Victoria
Now? Probably the same
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Polar bear
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?
valuing the environment within national accounts.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
keep big natural systems intact
Jim Igoe
Assistant Professor - Dartmouth College, Department of Anthropology
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
When I was eight years old my dog Princess was killed by a car in Southern Ontario. This was a defining moment in my life, because in my memory it was my first experience of real loss. My dad was there, and could have easily saved my dog, but he panicked. I did not blame him at the time, but I did when I was older. He died when I was 19 and at the time I thought that I hated him. Now that I am 44 with children of my own, I realize that he made a simple mistake. Life is full of moments like these when the quantum field clearly offers opportunities to choose the real. It is at moments like these, I think, that people are most likely to freeze. This is because the least frightening thing to do is abandon attention and tell yourself that it just wasn't in the cards. This is what my dad told me when I said that I wished Princess was still alive. Last year, when my son Vincent's dog Rama was killed near our house by a car, I remembered this. It was my fault because I had forgotten to close the gate to our yard because I was preoccupied with something that I thought was very important. As soon as Rama ran up the alley, I knew it was too late. Vince was angry at me, and I told him I was sorry. I told him I had made a mistake and that sometimes daddies make mistakes. I asked him to forgive me and he did.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The beach in Kingsville, Ontario near where my dog was killed
Now? I no longer believe in the great outdoors, because I know that the out there is also in here.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Human beings, because we are extraordinarily complex and confused, because as far as I know we are the only organism that routinely distorts information, and because we are equally capable of profound kindness and senseless cruelty. Go figure. Crows are cool too, but that maybe because they remind me of people.
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 greatest challenge facing our species on this planet is the simultaneous ascendancy of spectatorship and consumerism. Spectatorship is the opposite of efficacy, it turns us into passive observers of events who take no responsibility for the world of which we are part. Through spectatorship we make the mistake of believing that we are separate from our environment. Consumerism is closely related to this. As consumers we interact with the world as though it was put here solely to meet our needs. We experience life as a series of purchases and everything around us as a commodity. We do not see or question the historical, social, or ecological context of our consumption. We just consume. In this way, we lose any sort of reciprocal relationship with the environment. This loss of connection is the single largest threat to the future of our species, and many others, on this planet.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Find a way to connect before it’s too late.
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
When I was eight years old my dog Princess was killed by a car in Southern Ontario. This was a defining moment in my life, because in my memory it was my first experience of real loss. My dad was there, and could have easily saved my dog, but he panicked. I did not blame him at the time, but I did when I was older. He died when I was 19 and at the time I thought that I hated him. Now that I am 44 with children of my own, I realize that he made a simple mistake. Life is full of moments like these when the quantum field clearly offers opportunities to choose the real. It is at moments like these, I think, that people are most likely to freeze. This is because the least frightening thing to do is abandon attention and tell yourself that it just wasn't in the cards. This is what my dad told me when I said that I wished Princess was still alive. Last year, when my son Vincent's dog Rama was killed near our house by a car, I remembered this. It was my fault because I had forgotten to close the gate to our yard because I was preoccupied with something that I thought was very important. As soon as Rama ran up the alley, I knew it was too late. Vince was angry at me, and I told him I was sorry. I told him I had made a mistake and that sometimes daddies make mistakes. I asked him to forgive me and he did.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The beach in Kingsville, Ontario near where my dog was killed
Now? I no longer believe in the great outdoors, because I know that the out there is also in here.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Human beings, because we are extraordinarily complex and confused, because as far as I know we are the only organism that routinely distorts information, and because we are equally capable of profound kindness and senseless cruelty. Go figure. Crows are cool too, but that maybe because they remind me of people.
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 greatest challenge facing our species on this planet is the simultaneous ascendancy of spectatorship and consumerism. Spectatorship is the opposite of efficacy, it turns us into passive observers of events who take no responsibility for the world of which we are part. Through spectatorship we make the mistake of believing that we are separate from our environment. Consumerism is closely related to this. As consumers we interact with the world as though it was put here solely to meet our needs. We experience life as a series of purchases and everything around us as a commodity. We do not see or question the historical, social, or ecological context of our consumption. We just consume. In this way, we lose any sort of reciprocal relationship with the environment. This loss of connection is the single largest threat to the future of our species, and many others, on this planet.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Find a way to connect before it’s too late.
Dr Philip Seddon
Director of the Wildlife Management Programme - University of Otago
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Holiday job as undergraduate student working on Yellow-eyed penguins.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Coastal forests
Now? Coastal forests and alpine regions, but with an awe of deep deserts following 9 years in Saudi Arabia
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
No favourites
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?
Changing habitat suitability due to global climate change, and its impact on the distribution of indigenous biodiversity
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Humans are part of, not apart from "nature" - we can't act as if we are not just a big primate with a disproportionate impact on our environment.
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Holiday job as undergraduate student working on Yellow-eyed penguins.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Coastal forests
Now? Coastal forests and alpine regions, but with an awe of deep deserts following 9 years in Saudi Arabia
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
No favourites
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?
Changing habitat suitability due to global climate change, and its impact on the distribution of indigenous biodiversity
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Humans are part of, not apart from "nature" - we can't act as if we are not just a big primate with a disproportionate impact on our environment.
Ramesh Boonratana
Lecturer - Mahidol University
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
No particular one that I can pinpoint, but several animals, animal-related incidences, and feeling secure and confidence when in close contact with nature.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
small community forests and forested hills
Now? any tropical rainforest
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Tokay gecko – was nicknamed “tokay” by my father when I was 2-3 years old. We live in a town that receive no electricity, and when the tokay gecko came calling in the evening, I would always rush out of the house. Growing up later, I learnt that that the Tokay gecko can take preys much larger than itself.
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?
current challenge - to overcome anthropocentrism. Future challenge – ensuring resources are accessible to all.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Biodiversity and Natural Resources Conservation for Human Preservation
Today’s Date: 23 July 2008
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
No particular one that I can pinpoint, but several animals, animal-related incidences, and feeling secure and confidence when in close contact with nature.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
small community forests and forested hills
Now? any tropical rainforest
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?
Tokay gecko – was nicknamed “tokay” by my father when I was 2-3 years old. We live in a town that receive no electricity, and when the tokay gecko came calling in the evening, I would always rush out of the house. Growing up later, I learnt that that the Tokay gecko can take preys much larger than itself.
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?
current challenge - to overcome anthropocentrism. Future challenge – ensuring resources are accessible to all.
5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Biodiversity and Natural Resources Conservation for Human Preservation
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