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Editorial: Humans' Real Place on Earth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Nicholas Polunin
Affiliation:
Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract

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Type
Editorial Section
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1995

References

* Here we are reminded of the World Council For The Biosphere, which we conceived, established, and ran for the ten years of its active existence — until it became evident that more and more of the reasons for its establishment were being taken care of by ad hoc or other responsible bodies, leaving our World Council chiefly to look after Biosphere Day, Biosphere Clubs, and the search for funds especially for helpfully valuable allied Prizes. These last are our remaining ambition to see established; they should be annual and ancillary to a first major Biosphere Prize, include a satellite one in each of the five leading fields of biospheric importance which should be of sufficient value to enable recipients of demonstrated prize-winning capacity and developmental ability to carry on their approved work. These fields are land, sea, fresh water, renewable resources, and air (including stratosphere and climate).

We also think of worthy bodies we have helped (or at least encouraged) to start and now continue allegiance with, such as the International Society of Naturalists, The Foundation for Environmental Awareness, The Vernadsky International Centre for Biosphere Studies, and the International Energy Foundation. Moreover there are our continuing books' series of Cambridge Studies in Environmental Policy and Environmental Challenges, as well as our sole editorship and responsibility for publishing the much-needed World Who Is Who and Does What in Environment & Conservation — in case anybody should think we will be forsaking the environmental/conservational movement after undertaking our positively last International Conference on Environmental Future already some years ago and now relinquishing the Editorship of Environmental Conservation (apart from joining its Board of Advisory Editors and retaining responsibility for its section of Book Reviews). At least (and at last!) these changes should give us time to think properly henceforth about what we aspire still to perpetrate, including the ongoing World Who Is Who and certain books that really seem to be needed.

Also needed we feel strongly is the development outlined in prospect in the terminal footnote (on page 194 of our latest issue) to our penultimate editorial, namely of a global network of independent environmental/conservational watch-dogs which our Biosphere Clubs surely could and therefore should be encouraged to become, guided as to policy by a resurrected World Council For The Biosphere and having sufficient local media-clout to get publicity for action when necessary.