Ricardo Miller

Environmental Officer - National Environment and Planning Agency

July 23, 2009

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

My most memorable interaction with an animal was when i accidentally killed a Red-billed Streamertail Hummingbird as a child. This magnificent bird was perched on a branch and partially hidden from view. Eager to get a better view of the bird i tossed a huge stone to shake the branch so the bird would fly...instead it was hit and died. I was so heart broken.

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

Going to the beach was one of my favourite past-times as a child. My father and I would jog (and walk) about 2 miles to the beach every Sunday morning while it was still dark. We would then leave just as the sun came above the horizon. Today, my favourite outdoor activity is to go birdwatching in the lush hills of Portland or the Cockpit Country, Jamaica.... and going to the beach.

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

Black-throated Blue Warbler. This is a very attractive bird (particularly the male) and this was one of the first bird calls of a migrant that i learnt. It was also astonishing to know that this bird may travel 2000 to 4000 km each winter season and repeat this feat during spring to travel between the Caribbean and the US or Canada.

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?

Presently i believe one of the biggest challenges in Jamaica is saving our forests in its natural state. In the future things might be so bad that keeping the environment in a habitable state would be our greatest challenge.

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

Plant a tree as often as you can.