TV star on how we can save the planet

Gordon Buchanan has seen a lot of the world in his 25 years as a wildlife cameraman and in that time has observed much harm being done to the planet.

Despite the devastation, however, he remains upbeat the huge problems can be overcome by mankind itself.

In his latest series, Equator From The Air, he takes a different tack on the wildlife documentary, looking at the interaction between humans and nature.

The immediate findings are not good, but rather than throwing up his hands in despair Gordon believes the future could be bright.

From his home in Glasgow, he says: “It is an interesting one for me because it is the most environmentally-driven thing I have done.

“Past projects have tried to push forward the bigger picture and bigger messages but this is all about those big issues, broken into small parts. It deals with some of the gravest issues of our time,” he adds.

In the first episode he looks at the imbalance to be found in the tropics, where 40% of humanity lives. At the moment the balance is against nature, because of problems such as deforestation, which causes nutrients to be washed away from the soil, or illegal gold mining which pollutes water courses.

“We know what the problem with the planet is,” Gordon says. “There are just too many people putting demands on it. There has to be a way forward for Earth and everyone and everything that lives on it.”

While he saw the harmful effects of a human population which is growing at its fastest rate on the African equator, Gordon says he has high hopes that a way can be found to make things better not just for animals but for ourselves as well.

This includes creating wildlife corridors to allow animals to migrate across the great plains of Africa, thus avoiding farmed land with fences which can trap wildebeest and other creatures. It also includes coping with refugees

in a more eco-friendly manner than large encampments such as in Uganda, where there has been a huge influx from war-torn South Sudan.

He says: “It was fascinating to travel such a great distance and see the horror of some of these things happening to species and habitats. But it was ultimately uplifting because you realise we are our own salvation – we are the ones who are going to solve these problems.

“After a year of filming the series I had a lot more hope because I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. That doesn’t mean to say there isn’t going to be more loss of species but we are too intelligent to lose everything, that’s what I think it comes down to.”

Gordon says making a difference is possible through new technology but also through the passion and dedication of a small number of people.

“I thought if this is what a few people can make, hopefully over time many can make the difference that is needed.” Gordon