Prof. Dr. Heinz Sielmann, Animal Film-maker
    (Photo: Sabine Rübensaat, Deutscher Bauernverlag GmbH.)

"When I think about the past century I certainly remember the world shattering events: the wars, the technological progress. But I also think about a period of massive destruction of nature! As an animal film-maker I have spent my life within nature. I was granted the privilege to travel on all continents, and I was allowed to see some of the greatest natural wonders of our earth during these expeditions. During this I had to recognize very soon, that we are on the way to destroy these remaining paradises.

  Just one example: In 1957 the shooting for the film "Herrscher des Urwalds" [ruler of the ancient forest] led me to Epulu at the upper reaches of the [river] Congo. This ancient forest's station became famous since scientists discovered the Okapi in 1901, the shy forest giraffe. 33 years later I visited the Congo again: On my way to Epulu I saw deforestation with hundreds of meters width on the left and right side of the street. Within only one generation half of the rain forest in this region had been destroyed. The big ecological organizations have done a lot to preserve the lowland rain forests around Epulu. But the fight against degradation and the complete destruction of other areas of ancient forest has not been won.

On the brink of the new century it became evident how we humans have made overcrowded cultivated areas out of once natural landscapes within only a few decades.  It is my hope, that we take this knowledge to our hearts and learn in 21st century to limit our boundlessness and to end the overexploitation on nature"

Prof. Heinz Sielmann
Animal film-maker and founder of the Heinz Sielmann Foundation