What personally gives you hope as you look out over the next century, and what inspires you to do this work?

Well, I think every person wants to have a life that is generous in outlook and contributes something of value to the future. And in my case, the conservation and restoration of the natural environment is an extremely satisfying activity. I really can't say more than that. It's a worthy effort, it's worth hard work and constant thinking. And the rewards are very substantial for all of these reasons we've been discussing concerning the value of biodiversity.

In your book "Biophilia" you mention your visit to Cuba just before Fidel Castro's Moncado invasion and his "history will absolve me" speech. You suggest that he and all of us will likely be judged by history more on our environmental behavior than anything else.

Yes, I think we should look at the world that we're in and what we're leaving to future generations very much with conservation in mind. One thousand years from now, even just 100 years from now, people will judge us far more than we now dream of for the amount of the natural environment that we either destroyed or left intact for them. They're not going to be emotionally involved anywhere as much as we are with today's wars, epidemics and great economic problems. I think they will judge us by how much of the natural environment, and the remainder of life in the natural environment, that we have left them. Because that is the one thing, the one heritage, that cannot be modified, whether it is generous or unfeeling and stingy.

If I'm the average American and I say, in effect, "Look, I understand what you're saying, but the truth of the matter is all I really feel for is my own life and the people I know. I just don't feel any concern for future generations. I hope they live well, but it's not my concern." How would you respond?

I would say, "I don't believe you." I think the average person is a lot better than that. And I would add, "I hope you'll be an environmentalist. The cost is not great. And the payoff is enormous, even in your own time."

Could you give any more of a case for why my life would be enriched by caring about future generations?

I think I better leave it at that. I've probably been way too preachy already [laughs]. Your average reader has got enough in him or her, there's enough of an environmental mood in this country now, that they're going to know what we're talking about. You've been very nice, but you've led me off into the fever swamps of theology.

Well, I got there because it seems that the environmental movement's present reliance on environmental and technical arguments is not enough. The environment is getting worse. And even a politician like Al Gore, who clearly understands the crisis, has not made it a major issue in this campaign. Polls suggest that the environment is not a voting issue in the election. It seems that unless we can touch the spiritual impulses within us that care about future generations, we will not do what is necessary to save them.

I completely agree. I think we have to work on this aspect of it. This is the reason why I'm not dismissive of even the most fundamentalist among the religious. I'm not being cynical about it. I think they have wonderful impulses that can be added to the environmental movement.

Are you saying that scientists should seek a dialogue with traditionally religious folks and say in effect, "Look, let's not argue about what we disagree on, let's focus on what we can all agree on"?

Those are almost the same words I use in the last paragraph of my book "The Diversity of Life." That's how I close it.

It seems that unless the environmental movement can tap into people's largely unconscious feelings of spirituality, mystery, awe and reverence, and then tie it to concern for future generations, we're not going to save the environment.

The centerpiece of my new book is going to be what you just said. I think we've got to get moving on this. I don't think it is something that's going to be done in a humanistic ivory tower. It's got to be done in a way that touches what people like Joe Six-pack are thinking. We've got to get moving on an effort to spiritualize the environmental movement -- not in the sense of starting to offer up prayers -- but with a sound empirical base.

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