ABSTRACT
Interdependence is one of the interesting and appealing words that sums up for ecologists a series of concepts reflecting, perhaps better than anything else, the idea of a holistic approach to the environment. Interdependence involves much more than an awareness of problems and the search for solutions to them. While the word interdependence was not often pronounced, it was at the root of the deliberations about the mistakes that should be avoided, about the lifestyle that should be promoted, and about various facets of a lifestyle aimed—not at uniformity—but at adapting to the great diversity of that country. It was a fascinating experience to hear speaker after speaker—whether born in the United States or whether a native of Papua New Guinea—seeking the best ways of achieving a harmonious future and a full comprehension of biological, physical, and cultural implications of interdependence.
