Aqua Geographia 2/94 [antikvár]

Dear Nature Lover, it is widely known by now that there is zero possibility of solving the world's problems unless we end population growth as rapidly as possible and start gradual decline to a sustainable size. More consumers mean more people cutting more trees for firewood and paper, more furnaces and air conditioners, more automobiles, more pressure on animals, more natural habitats and precious freshwaters harnessed for agriculture. Under the pressure of overpopulation nature and wildlife, above and below water, and at the end humans, are receding into memory. At this edge already are the Chocó - as so many indigenous peoples - from northwestern Colombia and the Darién (Panama). With them secrets and knowledge of the rainforests disappear before we have been able to recognize a fraction of it. Such unique plants as the hallucinogenic vine (Banisteriopsis caapi), a powerful purgative, orthe intriguing Paullinayoco, a purgative that has the property of stilling hunger without weakening the body, will remain a mystery for us as will thousands of other valuable medicinái plants and flowers. With the Chocó - the staff of aqua geőgraphia has visited them on several expeditions in the remote and still unpenetrably dense jungle of the Darién - alsó beautiful traditions and cultures will disappear. We try to show you a small fraction of these handsome natives and their life, beginning on page 24. Indigenous people of Africa are alsó at stake. In our survey and adventurous travelling throughout the black continent our team visited several tribes and brought back somé of their traditions with beautiful photography (page 44). Alsó about natives and their amazing cultures with unpublished underwater photography from the small group of Nggela (Solomon) islands, is a contribution from the diving Germán lady whoes unique Portfolio (page 66) graces the paper of this issue. But if we really should be able to solve the population growth problem - Man has never been as alert as today and the world looks to September's United Nations International Conference in Cairo where 170 nations will meet to resume the dialogue begun at the UN conference 20 years ago on Population and Development considering the single most pressing environmental problem of our time - our prime objective must be to conserve many more natural areas on the planet. The World Heritage List contains today 90 natural sites around the globe - one of them, Florida's Everglades National Park is already listed as "World Heritage Site in Danger" - a fraction of what is needed for wildlife to survive. Protected areas and National Parks amount to less than 1% of the earth's surface (if Greenland is excluded). Neither this small portion nor the acclaimed CITES will help to stop the rapid extinction of animals and plants. Non-protected areas, especially freshwater aquatic habitats, are even more endangered and with it its entire flóra and underwater fauna. And very little attention has been given to such areas! The Saane river in Switzerland for instance is a riverbed completely changed by man as thousands of others around the world. The construction of dams, hydroelectrical powerplants, artificial man-made habitats have taken the lives of millions of fishes and aquatic animals. And there is no end to it. The probably only exclusivelyfreshwateroriented underwater photographer, the Swiss Michel Roggo, has for decades studied the underwater world of this Swiss river. His unmatched photography and the sad as weil as beautiful life of vanishing fishes and habitats he presents us on page 100. It is time for Man to re-think - not only on government levels but alsó in the financial world, and especially the World Bank which celebrates its 50th anniversary these days. An institution which was born in the ashes of World War II to provide the mechanism for reconstructing Europe. A very good objective. But since its switch in the mid 1950ies to help poor countries develop, it is argued that the large scale development schemes (in 1993 alone lending over $ 24 biliion) in such countries have often harmed poor people and the environment (ag has documented such events in several past issues already!). We all have to re-think and we must stop population growth if this planet's life shall survive. We must be content with less - "less is more" is the truth we must admit. With this in mind we want You to enjoy further beautiful contributions in this issue and do not hesitate to write or fax to us if You have any comments or questions. We are here to give You the very best possible lecture on life above and below water, we are constantly improving because You have encouraged us so much. Thank You. The Editor in Chief Heiko Bleher