Page 35 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #04

talking

skyscrapers, hotels Above: the proposed sustainability in Dubai. As they say: with the Seychelles government to tell
and malls could project at Yan’an will ‘It’s where we live, it’s all we’ve got.’” the story of the remarkable coral reefs of
focus on soil. Top right:
possibly go green, but Smit continues: “Dubai had a few Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 1,125km from
Eden is poised to buy
Smit characteristically a sequoia forest. fossil fuel millions and decided to the archipelago’s capital. “It’s the size of
challenges such spend its savings on making itself Isle of Wight, populated by 14 scientists
assumptions. He was invited to critique a visitor destination and an airport and shaped like a bagel with the biggest
plans for “the sustainability pavilion” at hub. It’s done that brilliantly. But Sheikh lagoon you’ve ever seen,” enthuses Smit.
Dubai’s Expo 2020, a jamboree for the new Mohammed [ruler of the Emirate of “It’s got the most fantastic coral at low tide
technologies of global capitalism. “I said, Dubai] is really passionate that by 2030 it’s and when the tide comes in you’ve got to
it’s horse-feathers. It’s terrible, just boring – going to be the most sustainable place on get out because giant sharks come in to
about climate change, evolution, the world Earth and I wouldn’t bet against them.” hunt turtles. There are over 100,000 giant
going to hell in a handcart,” recalls Smit. tortoises, great plants, a lot of mangroves
“They asked if Eden would become creative mit’s other Edens look more and the sharpest coral. It is astonishing.”
director. So we went, ‘Ah. OK, if you’re brave’. conventionally sustainable – Aldabra is too sensitive for millions of
And they have been very, very brave.” raising awareness of Antarctica in tourists, who will instead visit a special
Dubai’s Eden-led sustainability pavilion Hobart, Tasmania, and pollution centre in the Seychelles’ capital and watch
will be a “living piece of theatre,” says Smit. S in Christchurch, New Zealand – live feeds of reef footage. “The digital world
“Most people don’t remember much from but Smit sparked a diplomatic storm after can link up with these wild places and get
Expos so we set ourselves the challenge that likening New Zealand to “a beautiful person people to understand how marvellous they
everybody who comes through this place will with cancer”. Intensive farming, he argued, are,” says Smit. “One of the issues with the
Attenboroughisation of the world is that
undermined the country’s hugely successful
remember five things from our Expo until
WEEman: A amy; Yan’an: Eden Project; sequo a: Pg am/Getty “They are really serious about sustainability next trip is going to be,” he says, grimacing. B of plastic washed up on
the day they die. It’s all about telling stories.”
“100% Pure New Zealand” marketing
humans are never shown in it, really, and I
campaign. “I don’t know how comfortable my
think that it is important to show humans.”
Dubai challenged his prejudices too.
lue Planet II has trigged
Less controversial is Eden’s partnership
and they understand the paradox of
huge public concern – and
political action – over plastics.
Smit has witnessed tonnes
“ I SAID, IT’S HORSE-FEATHERS. IT’S TERRIBLE, JUST
Aldabra. “This isn’t my phrase but it’s a
BORING – ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, EVOLUTION, THE
very good one: when people say they are
WORLD GOING TO HELL IN A HANDCART,” RECALLS SMIT.
where is away?” he says. “It’s not that we’re
BBC Wildlife
April 2018 throwing something away, please tell me, 35