The Next Aldo Leopold
George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, says, “The most significant things in the world happen because of the actions of a few people, whether it’s in research, politics or conservation.” Archibald is heartened by the new generation of conservationists -- like these kids at the Nature Conservancy's Phantom Canyon Preserve, during the 2012 American Birding Association Camp in Colorado. “When you go into various parts of the world and you see these wonderful young people, you wonder, ‘Who’s the Aldo Leopold in that group?’ . . . One of the most exciting parts of my work is discovering these wonderful kindred spirits.”
BirdNote®
The Next Aldo Leopold
Featuring George Archibald of the International Crane Foundation
Interview by Chris and Todd Peterson
Adapted by Dominic Black from a piece by Todd Peterson
This is BirdNote.
[Calls of Whooping Cranes]
Archibald: The most significant things in the world happen because of the actions of a few people, whether it’s in research, politics and, in some cases in conservation.
George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation. At one stage, there were only 15 Whooping Cranes left in the entire world. Now there’s something in the region of 600. That’s largely thanks to the work of the International Crane Foundation and its network of dedicated supporters from all over the world. But how do you build such a network?
“I would meet kindred spirits and continue to meet kindred spirits that have the spirit of caring and interest. And you know that if you invest in that relationship, it’s going to be productive.”
Archibald is following in the tradition of great naturalists like Aldo Leopold and Henry David Thoreau:
“And when you go into various parts of the world and you see these wonderful young people, you wonder, ‘Who’s the Leopold in that group?’ And they’re there! … And that’s one of the most exciting parts of my work, is discovering these wonderful kindred spirits.”
There's more to the story at BirdNote.org. I'm Mary McCann.
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Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Whooping Cranes 2748 recorded by G Archibald
BirdNote’s theme music was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
Producer: John Kessler
Executive Producer: Dominic Black
© 2014 Tune In to Nature.org August 2016 Narrator: Mary McCann
ID# archibaldg-02-2014-08-05 archibaldg-02
Who do you think might be the next Leopold or Thoreau in your community? If he or she has an inspiring story, let us know at BirdNote.org.
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