I'd come into town from the bush - after 28 years of field work in natural systems - and become an academic. So I turned my attention to humans, much as I had to possums in the forests.

Anything that's left that's remotely like wilderness should be left strictly alone. We have no business there any more. It's not going to save you to go in and cut the last old-stand forests.

Few people today muck around in earth, and when on international flights, I often find I have the only decently dirty fingernails.

Trees are responsible for 3/4 of all rains

If you only do one thing, collect rainwater.

If people want some guidance, I say, just look at what people really do. Don't listen to them that much.

Choose your friends from people who you like what they do - even though you mightn't like what they say.