Vig Károly: Zoological Research in Western Hungary. A history (Szombathely, 2003)
XVII the motto Think globally, act locally' has applied in environmental protection since 1891. What those two Hungarians accomplished pointed towards a change of outlook —a change of paradigm —in universal science. This showed the direction in which the world standard developed later! To show that this does not arise from any outlook of extra Hungáriám non est vita, let me quote something from the 'capital city' of United Europe —a volume on issues of sustainable development that reached me through PAUL STAPLETON, publishing director of the International Plant Genetic Resource Institute in Rome, to whom I am most grateful: The first government agencies for nature conservation were founded in two different countries in 1885. The United States created the Fish and Wildlife Service, and Hungary created the Centre for Research on Economic Ornithology. Both sought generally to address human environmental impact. Nature conservation reached the international stage as a result of the Hungarian agency's initiatives. They first addressed public concern that the massive slaughter of insectivorous birds migrating through southern Europe would expose crops to major insect damage (NICOLSON 1987). Hungary was then instrumental in initiating the first International Ornithological Congress in 1890, placing this issue on the international agenda.' 2 Why does all this have to be said in a foreword? Because the author's work outlines the breadth and depth of precisely the basic scientific research on 2 HATCHER, R.L. 1996. Academic objectives. on Sustainable Development, 58-80. Brussels: VUE which the Hungarian claims to priority in recognizing genetics and the global ideas of the biosphere protection rest. It was, perhaps, worth quoting the passage earlier for the message it holds for Hungarians and the international community. The greatness of a country in science depends not on its population, but on intellectual achievements of its inhabitants. A small nation may yet command great respect, if it respects knowledge and its own resourcefulness, its own self and its own traditions. To exaggerate slightly, it has to take a risk. One success for Hungary's statehood was to sustain a thousand years of security for sustainable development, not on an ethnic basis (which the ethno-genetic character of the Hungarians would preclude) but through a desire and compulsion to learn the best from all. Another part may have been the respect and care for pagan sacred things —springs, brooks, rivers, holy trees, woods and groves —passed on from generation to generation. (I remember countless such 'pagan' attributes and manifestations even in the behaviour of my grandfather and father.) This has included —ever since the 11th-century Admonitions of ST STEPHEN —respect and honour for the assets and traditions of other peoples (aside from the sad exceptions, the tragic counter-examples of earlier and more recent times). As far as the expressly professional, zoological aspects of the book are concerned, I do not feel I am competent to praise researchers or emphasize certain taxa. There would be little point in any case, just before the Introduction to the book. In NATH, В., L. HENS and D. DEVUYST eds. Textbook University Press.
