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A.C.W.W. cont’d. CONSERVATION & AGRICULTURE IN A MODERN WORLD From a speech presented by Professor Eilif Dahl of the Agricultural College of Norway at the A.C.W.W. Conference in Oslo, Norway. In introducing his subject, Professor Dahl said, “In our world conservation has become a major public concern. Perhaps thirty years ago the conservationist was looked upon as a sort of odd idealist, now he is becoming respected and governments seek his advice. “Why has conservation so suddenly become important? There appears to be three prob- lems. They are (1) Since the beginning of the industrial revolution there has been an unprec- edented growth of human population and hu- man activity. Can this growth continue forev- er? Can man learn to live in equilibrium with his environment and not at the expense of in- herited capital? (2) Through the use of maâ€" chines and the development of modern indus- try man’s ability to change his environment has increased tremendously; it is now virtually possible to move mountains, but the question is has man the wisdom to use all this power for the benefit of mankind? The pollution of air, soil and Water has reached proportions where an increasing part of the nation's re- sources must be used to combat the immediate threats posed by the pollution of our environ- ment. (3) In an affluent society where the has- ic needs for products are satisfied for most citiâ€" zens, man is in an almost unprecedented situa- tion. In a poor man‘s society, man's need for products is imperative; a hungry man is not interested in preserving the beauty of the countryside, he is interested in food. During the last twenty years the conserva- tion movement has developed both in influ- ence and in basic philosophy. To many early conservationists, conservation was more or less equivalent to the preservation of nature. This attitude is not defended by modern conserva- tionists. We now speak of conservation as the wise use of resources; it involves both use and preservation. “I would prefer the definition ‘Conservation is the wise use of resources in the best long- term interest of man.’ This brings up a ques- tion of priorities. In older agricultural commu- nities, apart from feeding the family, nothing was more important than to preserve the pro- duction potential of the future. A good farmer should leave the farm to his children in as 36 good if not better condition than he reccimt it. When we raise a family we are planning i s. more than twenty years ahead. Whether are business men, farmers, scientists or fat-n workers, we have children for whom we it a liveable future. “It is then the responsibility of governmt to restrict the use of resources and other Lt, nomic activities to preserve our long-term tercsts. “First of all it must be in the leng-tcrm terest of any country to protect its agFlCUilt‘ potential. Then it would seem that there is long-term solution without population cont If we want to avoid having children die malnutrition or downright starvation, the m. ber of people on earth must not exceed number for which there is food available. “The XI International Botanical Cong... in Seattle in 1969 resolved that the aim of c: servation was to preserve productivity and versin in nature. Why preserve diversity? “Man needs something which for lack u: better expression might be termed mental or faction. Mental satisfaction can be achieved different contexts. One can have mental 59* faction in social context with friends, in a c tural context, in the appreciation of art. M' find mental satisfaction in contact with math In 1968 the United Nations Associations the Scandinavian countries decided to assc; ble 3. group of experts to discuss the rights people with regard to their environment. proposed ‘lnternational DeclaratiOn of the H man Environment' was drawn up. This dee ration if accepted by the nations is not legs binding but can later become the basis of at ventions which legally protect the rights of x individual citizens. Some important points this proposed resolution are: 1. Everyone has the right of living in an en ronment where human beings can develop in satisfactory way, both physically and mental.‘ This right means an environment with cle.‘ air, clean soil, and access to unspoilt nature. well as protection against damages which t; accompany unrestricted exploitation of mint resources." The Professor concluded by saying, "1 b. lieve that the idea of conservation. the concea- for future generations would come easily t country women. They have reared their chi dren1 want them to grow up and in time hat children of their own. Some country worm.- are living on farms which have been in tli‘ family for generations. This much is ‘certair- that if we under the banner of economic pros ress use up our resources our children an: grandchildren would need for survival. the? are not going to thank us.” HOME AND COUNTR“