Editor’s COMMENT
Welcome
to the seventh issue of Arabian Wildlife Magazine whose release coincides
with the launching of an on-line version, accessible on the World Wide
Web of the Internet at arabianwildlife.com. In recognition
of this development several contributions to this issue focus on how new
innovations in the field of communications are helping to promote conservation
of wildlife.
Whilst one cannot help but admire the advances
of the Computer Age, it is not all necessarily good for wildlife. One of
the greatest dangers we face is that we confuse the virtual world of cyberspace
with our real physical environment. Whilst the fact that scientists can
use satellite communications to track migrating houbara bustards is undoubtedly
a positive step towards conservation planning, we must also remember that
the real world is not on our computer screens, or in our air conditioned
offices, but outside, where the natural world is continually battling against
the impacts of Man’s encroachment.
The beautiful images of nature that are contained
in this issue of Arabian Wildlife owe much to modern technology – long focus
lenses, modern cameras, film processing, scanning, and even image manipulation
using special software. The pictures serve to remind us of the sheer beauty
of nature and the wonderful variety of Arabia’s natural world. But in order
to take many of these pictures the photographers have carefully turned their
cameras away from scenes of destruction, pollution and environmental damage.
Whilst the images evoke pleasure and sheer delight, we must not forget that
our natural world depends upon each and everyone of us to look after it.
We must not lose our contact with, or understanding of, the real world of
nature. If we do so, generations to come will only be able to learn about
our animals and plants through digitally stored pictures, still drifting
in cyberspace.
Professor Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada
Arabian Wildlife. Volume 3, Number 2