1970 - J. E. S. Fawcett - Priorities in Conservation

In this lecture, J. E. S. Fawcett discussed the growth in the complexity of conservation efforts. He noted the conflict between three major objectives of society: economic growth and development, the conservation of the environment and the security of basic rights and freedoms. Unlike ecosystems that strive towards balance, the demands of economic growth push things in an open-ended manner without a goal or limit. He discussed both the problem of non-renewable resources and the development that goes into finding alternatives. He also looked at how certain rights, like those to a family or property, could be affected by environmental concerns. He stressed the political nature of most environmental problems, noting that most have technical solutions that could be implemented should the political will exist. He called for the increased coordination and stream-lining of the activities between governmental and non-governmental bodies, where the expertise in conservation problems meet tests of independence and publicity. He explored the idea of international property in commodities and some models of sub-regional development.