Posted by teri on April 18, 2005

Q: I was wondering who you think has been the most important naturalist in the last 100 years? Thanks, Teri

A: Oh my, now there's a question that kept me thinking long and hard! To begin with, your definition of "most important" needs to be determined since this can vary, but I can come up with several people that I think fall into MY category of most important.

Those that come to mind are:

John Muir - is certainly an important figure in the conservation movement in America and although not a naturalist, per se, he has had enormous impact on preservation and appreciation of wild places and, of course, the beginnings of the Sierra Club.

Aldo Leopold - has been an influencial figure who was more of an ecologist but able to write eloquently and certainly has made an impact with his "Sand County Almanac". Many people have been brought closer to nature through his writings.

Roger Tory Peterson - comes to mind with his field guide to birds. Peterson made an enormous contribution to an understanding and appreciation of the natural world with his technique of identifying birds in his guide. Of course, other guides have spun off today from his original bird guide.

E. L. Palmer - was an excellent naturalist who wrote a Field Guide to Natural History that has illustrations and rather extensive information on each species. This book encompasses the animals and plants of North America and while this volumn certainly doesn't list all of the species, it does a good job of highlighting many of the more common ones.

John Serrao - is the best naturalist I know personally although he is not well known across the country. John is a superb naturalist who lives and works in eastern Pennsylvania. John really knows the animals and plants that populate much of the northeast and has a teaching style that encourages people to appreciate what he shares. I can't help but rank him as "an important naturalist"

Hope this helps.

John Wiessinger ( April 19, 2005)