492 DISCUSSION 



of this kind the greatest of caution would have to be exercised, the example 

 of the musk-rat being a good illustration of the grave dangers attendant on 

 the introduction of new animals. 



In addition to the consideration of preserved areas for special types of 

 animals there is also the question of national parks for the preservation of 

 nature in general, including scenery, geology, flora and fauna. In Britain, 

 as in any other country, conservation must be a compromise between man 

 and nature, and the genera) opinion of those who are best informed on the 

 subject and have thought, for instance, of the desirability of preserving the 

 fauna, is that it is better to specialise in this matter than to attempt a com- 

 promise. That is to say, the interests of man should be paramount over 

 most of the area, and the interests of fauna, flora and scenery paramount 

 over other parts of the area. With regard to any national parks that may be 

 established, a zoological point is that wherever possible some central area 

 should be entirely reserved away from the general public as a real sanctuary, 

 available to wardens and scientists, as a reservoir for breeding insects and 

 animals which could then overflow to the adjoining national park. With 

 regard to national parks in Britain, we must not envisage such areas as 

 primarily for the conservation and breeding of animal life as in Africa and 

 certain parts of America and other countries. We must at first concen- 

 trate on providing national parks for recreational purposes where beau- 

 tiful scenery is available within easy range of great centres of population, 

 but as the national park principle spreads it is to be hoped that a large area 

 will be set aside, say in the Western Highlands', primarily for flora and fauna, 

 and secondarily for recreational interest. The Germans have shown us what 

 can be done in the way of national parks. They have established a magni- 

 ficent number of very interesting animals, including the white horse, the 

 bear, the beaver, deer, and so on, and they have even produced a close 

 replica of the extinct aurochs, a kind of synthetic aurochs, by breeding oxen 

 and cattle. 



Dr. Huxley expressed great satisfaction that the British Association had 

 sent in a resolution urging the Ministry to implement its promise to set up 

 a statutory authority. It is absolutely necessary for some central organisa- 

 tion to look after national parks and that that type of conservation should be 

 set up. It cannot in principle be left, in a country like Britain, to local 

 machinery like the Town and Country Planning Act, for the simple reason 

 that areas wherever national parks were allocated would be poor areas, 

 enjoyed largely by people from other areas. It would be unfair to place 

 such a burden on local rates. It is necessary to have some central authority. 

 It is further necessary to have some central authority to reconcile the claims 

 of various existing statutory authorities which are more or less tyrants in 

 their own domain and which sometimes clash. For instance, there are the 

 Electricity Commissioners, the Forestry Commissioners, and so on, and there 

 is no overriding authority to decide the claims of forestry and recreation or 

 the claims of indigenous fauna and flora. 



In conclusion. Dr. Huxley made a strong plea for the drawing up of a list 

 of the most interesting species in need of protection, and a list of the areas 

 most suitable for them, and for the establishment of national parks in some 

 of which, at least, the preservation of interesting flora and fauna could be 

 envisaged. 



Prof. E. J. Salisbury, F.R.S., dealing with the botanical aspects of 

 planning, was concerned mainly with the preservation of the amenities of 

 the country, and he referred to gardens, national parks, and roadside 

 planning. 



