142 Chemoecology 1 (1990) 142-143

Chemical screening programs in the real world

Timothy Johns School of Diabetics and Human Nutrition, Macdonald College of McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 1C0, Canada

Received October 12, 1990

In a recent commentary "Prospecting for na- ture's chemical riches" (Chemoecology 1:38-40), Thomas Eisner outlines a novel and forward-looking approach for the preservation of plant and animal species and the wealth of chemicals that they contain. The timeliness of the proposal is in its recognition not just of the global nature of ecological problems, but also of the impossibility of addressing the crisis in species extinction separate from human concerns, especially in the equatorial regions where most of the biological riches are found.

Preservation of species is, as clearly stated by Eisner, more than an academic issue and chemical ecologists can take strength from the growing sensitivity and urgency to- wards environmental issues within the whole of human socie- ty. Eisner takes a leadership role in both academic and public spheres in conceptualizing solutions to the crisis that address economic realities. This call for cooperative enterprises di- rected towards exploring, evaluating and rationally exploiting biological resources takes a useful step in making the concerns of chemical ecologists other than just intellectual anguish- ings.

Eisner presents this proposal as a broad ap- proach to the problem and as such it seems sufficiently flexi- ble to adapt to specific realities in its implementation. Un- doubtedly the concepts contained in it do require further re- finement if they are to proceed in the real world. Most impor- tantly any succesful efforts will need to be better aligned with the actual social, political and academic situations in "devel- oping" (southern) countries. While each country and region of the world has a reality of its own, there are patterns that apply generally to the milieu into which these proposals are di- rected.

The proposals seem to have been conceived in a vacuum on two fronts, firstly in relation to the existence, needs and aspirations of human beings in the actual areas of species extinction. Cooperative efforts envisaged in Eisner's proposal are directed only towards the administrative and aca- demic levels of societies in countries in these regions. There is an intrinsic weakness in this approach in assuming that scien- tists and authorities have the same interests as the subsistence communities in and around areas we might recognize as bio- logically valuable. Nonetheless, the second aspect of naivete in the overall proposal is its failure to recognize fully, and

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart • New York

properly accommodate, the efforts and orientations of these same scientists and institutions towards resource evaluation and management in their own countries.

Conservation biologists and wildlife agencies increasingly recognize that encroachment of growing human populations on natural areas can only be controlled with co- operation and involvement of local communities themselves. Most often the threat to natural habitats comes from the poorest people who have limited options for survival. Seldom is the preservation of habitats in their immediate best interest and may in fact be seen as contrary to their wellbeing. Faced with this reality the efforts of conservationists must logically align themselves with more general efforts in international community development. Only when the economic needs and aspirations of people are addressed can their essential cooper- ation be had. International development and assistance activi- ties have been rightly criticized for being imposed from the top-down. Too often they have failed to benefit those whom they were designed to assist. In the sphere of species conserva- tion where so much is at stake it is even more imperative that efforts involve the participation of local communities from the outset.

Politicians and decision makers in interna- tional development are in a dilemma in the face of the envi- ronmental crisis resulting from human population growth. Ecologists more than anyone see the current concept of sus- tainable development as an oxymoron. Indeed, one wonders how development which is at the root of our problems of spe- cies extinction can be part of the solution. Nonetheless, unless conservation proposals for southern countries adequately ad- dress the inevitable conflicts with human survival needs they are doomed to failure.

Scientists in these countries are equally cogni- zant of these realities and are actively involved in finding more workable solutions. Any proposals from outside must place themselves within the national context. In this regard the proposal of Eisner to create new screening institutions seems slightly off centre. In many, perhaps the majority of developing countries, programs and institutions are in place to undertake biological and chemical assessments of natural re- sources. The most common orientation of such efforts is to- wards the study of medicinal plants, an orientation reflective of both the cultural heritage and the practical needs of these nations. Undoubtedly these programs are struggling with grossly inadequate funding, but it is ill-conceived - impracti- cal and politically cavalier - to overstep or supplant such pro-

Chemical screening programs Chemoecology 1 (1990) 143

gramms in the attempt to set up natural products centres with the narrow focus suggested by Eisuer. Already these programs cooperate with institutions in Europe, North America and Ja- pan, albeit orten with a sense of being poor cousins. Rather than create new programs with the same problems and limita- tions, ways can be found to bolster existing institutions within a conservation context. Aspects of Eisner's approach to cata- loguing and screening of plant and animal species can be in- corporated in a useful manner with initiatives already in place. Certainly unless screening programs are consistent with nationally defined priorities they will be viewed with suspicion by politicians and scientists alike in countries of the south.

Ethnobiology is the area where the interests of conservationists, biologists, chemists, traditional medicine programs and local peoples coincide intellectually and practi- cally. Plants and animal products are an essential component of the subsistence activity in any traditional society. Indige- nous knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants provides direction in the search for new natural products by scientists in countries on both side of the north-south line. From the conservation perspective it is generally true that traditional patterns of exploitation are more compatible with habitat pre- servation than more intensive modern methods. Where mod-

els can be designed for the rational management of resources compatible with the legitimate economic, nutrition and health needs of local communities, benefit is derived for all parties concerned. In this context it may be possible for development to be sustainable. Without such solutions local communities themselves invariably suffer as plants and animals are lost. Ethnobotanists, in particular, are actively involved in dealing with these issues on the ground.

For chemical ecologists it should not be a dif- ficult step to align ourselves with the efforts that are already being made in related fields like ethnobotany and ethnophar- macology. Indeed we share common training, the same tech- niques, even at times the same laboratories. Indeed some of us are one and the same person. Chemical ecology greatly en- riches our understanding of the interactions of organisms, in- cluding humans, with their biological environment. In recog- nizing the wealth of chemical resources that exist in nature chemical ecologists have a unique leadership role to play. In the efforts to preserve this vanishing part of our natural heri- tage we need better to educate ourselves as to the efforts that are already under way on othër fronts, and seek ways to inte- grate and involve ourselves towards the most realistic solu- tions of this acute global crisis.

Erratum

Hardie et al. (1990) Aphid sex pheromone compo- nents: age dependent release and species-specific male response. Che- moecology 1 : 63-68.

Figures 3 and 4 were inadvertently reversed.