On demise of two legends
By: Dr Pranab J Patar
Ecologists of tallest order and leading experts on conservation biology – Prof E O Wilson and Prof Thomas Lovejoy have left for heavenly abode just a day apart. It’s a terrible news. Nevertheless, they are both gone now leaving behind a sea of knowledge, a mountain of legacy and an irreplaceable void.
The kind of work they did individually and collectively, will always be regarded among the most revered references in the field of biological diversity. While Prof Lovejoy was credited for coining the term 'biological diversity' and on the other hand, Prof Wilson was known as one of biggest advocates of biological diversity conservation, no wonder they were called as the father and god-father of biodiversity.
Prof Wilson was often referred to as the modern-day Darwin for his work on evolutionary biodiversity, who became the only conservation scientist to win not one but two Pulitzer prizes and Prof Lovejoy was awarded the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in the year 2001. Infact Prof Lovejoy was also part of The Half-Earth Council, an organisation chaired by E O Wilson to protect half the land and sea in order to manage sufficient habitat to reverse the species extinction crisis and ensure the long-term health of our planet.
As a student of ecology and environmental science, I first started reading them, while in the university back in 1999 rather accidentally. Once on the insistence of my guru Dr Erach Bharucha, I landed up in the British Council's Library (BCL) on the Ferguson College road, in Pune in search of a book called 'An Introduction to Tropical Rain Forests' by another legend TC Whitmore. And that one visit, changed my reading habit forever, I not only became a regular visitor to BCL but also started photocopying books, which were not available easily and pricey (as photocopying was rather affordable). And in my subsequent visits later to the library, I came across several books penned by these two authorities on biodiversity. Though I was keen on reading Prof Wilson’s famed autobiography ‘naturalist’ then, it took me a couple of more years to have a read of this book. I got an opportunity of knowing more about this Alabama boy becoming world's leading name on biodiversity, while I was in Bengaluru interning with well-known entomologist Dr. Kumar Ghorpade, who considered Prof Wilson as the greatest ecologist of our times for his pioneering work on ants, which happened to be Ghorpade's one of the pet subjects too.
Rest in peace Prof Wilson and Prof Lovejoy while we unrest to further the cause, you both have devoted your life for.
The author is an award winning environment & sustainability professional with over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Currently, Dr Patar is Chief Executive of Delhi based Indo-American environmental charity – Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment & Human Wellness.