The Book Had To Be Written

Yesterday, I attended the launching of a new book, Ecology, Environment, and Sustainable Development: Reflections Spanning Five Decades, written by Dr. Percy E. Sajise, an internationally known ecologist.  Written in the first person, the book tells of  the wide range of experience of the author presented as case stories analyzed through the lens of interacting disciplines and dishing out significant lessons learned aptly termed “messages.” 

There are many insights one can gain from this book.  During the launch, however, Dr. Sajise shared with the audience some of the more interesting insights he had.  For example, he said that it takes some 25 years for results of research to finally get into actual policy.  Twenty-five years is way too long for research results to actually affect policy, but the fact remains that policy makers are not always aching to consider decisions based on scientific study.  Many formulate policies out of personal agenda.  Sometimes policies that get formulated and officially put in place wee not studied carefully.

Out of the many messages that the book carries, three issues stuck out as far as I’m concerned:  first,  we always make a lot of mistakes, but we rarely gain any lesson from these mistakes; second, we talk too much, we do too little; and third, what we teach is inconsistent with what we do.

There’s one more thing about the over-all message of the book that I wish to highlight.  The Sajise book reminds us very clearly that we frequently fail to think holistically.  For example, Dr. Sajise told his audience a story about firewood gatherers in Yunan, China.  One time, together with other scientists from other parts of the world, he visited a mountainside where Yunan farmers cut their firewood.  The farmers planted acacia (good fire wood material) trees and when the time came they’d cut the tree at about 8 feet from the ground.  Intrigued, the visitors asked the farmers, “do you cut the tree at 8 feet because it was the best height for the trees to grow the most number of branches that could increase the amount of firewood you can harvest?”  The farmers’ answer: “No.  We just don’t want others to steal our firewood.”  At 8 feet, it’s a bit more difficult to harvest in haste.

The visitors were, of course, all technical people (foresters, plant physiologists, plant ecologists like Dr. Sajise himself) who were unable to make sense out of the farmers’ comments that had substantial social underpinnings.

The blurbs on the back cover of the book say different significant points.  Here are three of them:

From the publishers, SEARCA and UPLB:

The book underscores the importance of the interdisciplinary approach and networking to effective environmental management, enhanced sustainable development, and biodiversity conservation.  The notion of the primacy of people’s well being in development work runs throughout the book.  Students and practitioners of environmental science, ecology, and development would find many golden nuggets of wisdom in the book.

Dr. Delfin Ganapin, Jr., Global Manager, UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme, said:

I find the book good reading … the message of the book is that in fact, action can be done and things can be changed for the better.

Dr. Ben Malayang III, President of Silliman University, said:

This book talks of things that matter to us … and it does so in a way that exudes the deep soul and commitments of Percy as a person, a scientist, an educator, and a human being.

During the open forum that followed Dr. Sajise’s remarks, Dr. Gelia Castillo, an internationally reknown Filipino rural sociologist and one of Dr. Sajise’s mentors, profusely thanked the Author for pointing out that what experts at UPLB are teaching their students is not consistent with what they are doing.  Dr. Castillo’s clincher: “I have an assignment for you, Percy.  Head a group that would do something about the point you raised regarding the inconsistency of what UPLB experts are saying and what they are teaching their students.”  Dr. Sajise, more or less, accepted the challenge if Dr. Castillo, herself, and perhaps including Dr. Willy Padolina and others would be willing to join the group.  Percy clarified that he would be willing to be part of a team that would work on the issue if the officials of UPLB identified the issue as an important one that needs attention right away.

Let’s see what happens.  UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz was in the audience.

The book was co-published by SEARCA and the UPLB, and expertly edited by Lily L. Tallafer.  The 151-page book, paperback edition, sells at P600 and the hardcover edition at P850, and may be  bought directly from SEARCA.  I understand this is the student price.

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