GENMEDOC an inter-regional network of mediterranean seed banks

Introduction

Formerly, Man extracted strength and balance from Nature. He lived in harmony with her, making his own tools, building houses, hunting, fishing, sailing the seas and conquering far-off lands. At the beginning of the second millennium, the different civilizations, born in a world rich in biodiversity, were in need of seriously rethinking the consequences of their impact on the ecological structure on with Mankind depends.

Though we are evidently still dependent on this biodiversity, the roles today have changed, and we understand that its fate depends on our project for the future. Photo: Fluvial nature reserve in Alcantara (Sicilia).
(© 2005 Pietro Pavone - DBUC).

It is one of science’s roles to foresee events related to the environment and to rationalize the available resources and interventions when facing the issue of biodiversity conservation. Entering boldly into this sphere of prediction will be vital, as much to maximize the rational use of our resources as to safeguard human lives, an aspect of still greater importance when we consider our strong dependence on a culture of anticipation and future planning (Oliverio A., 2003 into Dallai R., 2005).

To meet these aims, however, two new aspects emerge: a political mutation, facing reality on the basis of analysis and the application of rational solutions, and a change of mentality. A political mutation which encourages politicians to opt for programmes with few immediate results for those who vote them in, and a transformation of Man’ s mentality in order that he might focus not only on the present but also on the more distant future.

We are justified in asking ourselves whether this might not be something of a utopia or whether, on the contrary, faced with the destruction of our territory and the considerable hardships many have to endure as a consequence of natural disasters, our consciences might be provoked to a sort of rebellion against the former pathway that has led to, or has been unable to avoid, so many environmental catastrophes.
A greater commitment is required in order to preserve our environment and its biodiversity, since our quality of life depends on them. We need to bring to maturity this culture of responsibility so that future generations can benefit from a similar environment to that which we have inherited. Also necessary is the development of ‘environmental ethics’, the capacity to reflect on our way of life and on our very origins.

Universities can provide an important contribution to confront these problems, in bearing the instruments of knowledge that will help increase our society’s respect for nature, along with the consciousness that the future of the Earth and of our own species is intimately dependent on the conservation of the environment and its biodiversity. It is to be hoped that, whether he be examining an oak tree, a butterfly, or a hawk, the observer might experience the same emotion or the same admiration as he might feel or manifest on beholding the work of a great artist. (Dallai R., 2005).