ISLAND OF THE WEEK

Very few words in the English dictionary evokes memories, a sense of wonder and a yearning for travel like the word “island”.

I am fascinated with islands due to the unique natural and cultural heritage associated with them.

I’m sure I’ve been influenced by Charles Darwin and his discoveries in the Galapagos Islands. Being a naturalist it was like a pilgrimage for me to go there 15 years ago.

Valuable first-hand experiences above and below the lava-rimmed islands gave me a knowledge I could never obtain simply by reading “The Origin of Species”. I learned about a fragile and threatened archipelago dealing with issues that are commonplace all over the world: Threats due to human population and introduced species such as feral cats, dogs, goats, pigs, etc. To this day that particular peregrination has helped me in my continuing education of a favorite topic: Island Biogeography.

Over the next several months, I will present to you some of my favorite islands–continental and oceanic–in locales ranging from the tundra to the tropics.

Examples include one of the smallest specks in the ocean that somehow gets on all of the world maps despite the fact that nobody even lives there: Gaferut Atoll (pictured here) in the Caroline Islands On the other extreme, I will highlight larger islands, e.g. Java, which is not only the most populous but one of the most diverse islands in the world.

I hope you find something of interest while clicking and scrolling your way through these pages. Perhaps it will trigger thoughts or memories that you’d like to share (please leave a comment below)?

My goal in this endeavor is to rekindle a sense of wonder and encourage all of us to continue to be courageous and proud stewards of this marvelous planet. One single island, multiplied by a few, makes an archipelago. One act of conservation, multiplied by many, makes for a healthier environment.

To see my first “island of the week”, please click on the navigation bar and go to “Java”.