Edward Max Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Edward Max Nicholson was a pioneering environmentalist
, ornithologist
and internationalist
, and a founder of the World Wildlife Fund
.
, Ireland
to English parents. His family moved to England in 1910, settling in Staines
. He became interested in natural history after a visit to the natural history museum and later took to birdwatching
, beginning to maintain a list of birds seen from 1913.
He was educated at Sedbergh School
in Cumbria
and then Hertford College
, Oxford from 1926, winning scholarships to both. At Oxford he read history, and visited Greenland
and British Guiana
as a founder member of the University's Exploration Club. At Oxford he organized bird counts and censuses on the University's farm at Sanford.
The Art of Bird-Watching (1931), he discussed the potential of co-operative birdwatching to inform the conservation debate. This led, in 1932, to the foundation of the British Trust for Ornithology
, of which he was the first treasurer and later chairman (1947–1949).
In 1949 he oversaw Part 3 of The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act which established a British state research council for natural sciences and 'biological service', The Nature Conservancy
(1949–1973), and allowed for the legal protection of National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). He replaced Captain Cyril Diver as Director General of The Nature Conservancy
in 1952 and served until 1966, just after the Conservancy lost its independent status. During his leadership the Conservancy established itself as a research and management body which promoted ecology as having broad relevance and application to land use decision-making and management. Monks Wood Experimental Station, which helped set up was perhaps the first to examine the effect of toxic chemicals on wildlife.
In 1952, while in Baluchistan
, he contracted polio, which left him with a limp.
In 1961, he together with Victor Stolan
, Sir Peter Scott
and Guy Mountfort
formed the organising group that created the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (now the World Wide Fund for Nature
). He was also a founder of the International Institute for Environment and Development
. In 1966 he set up and headed Land Use Consultants
, remaining with them until 1989. One of LUC's first reports was 'Parkways in principle and Practice'(1967), in which Nicholson urged that "the problems of recreation, traffic, environmental quality and conservation should be studied together . .", to form a category of parkways in Britain.
In 1978 Nicholson was instrumental in founding the ENDS Report which was later to become a highly influential journal for environmental policy specialists.
In 1947–1948, with the then director general of the United Nations
' scientific and education organisation UNESCO
, Julian Huxley
, he was involved in forming the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN) (now International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)).
From 1951 to 1960 he was the senior editor of "British Birds" and was the chief editor of The Birds of the Western Palearctic ("BWP", 1977–1994, OUP) from 1965–1992. He was the only author to stay with the project from start to end, personally writing the habitat sections of all species in the nine volumes.
In 1976 he was an instrumental part of the setting up of Britain's first urban ecology
park and the Trust for Urban Ecology
.
He was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
from 1980–1985, helped set up the New Renaissance Group and was a trustee of Earthwatch Europe.
He once appeared as a guest on Desert Island Discs
.
(PEP), now the Policy Studies Institute
. Nicholson had strong ideas on how a country should be run and wrote a book "The System".
He joined the civil service
in 1940, during World War II
working for the Ministry of Shipping, then the Ministry of War Transport, attending conferences at Quebec and Cairo, and was with Winston Churchill
at the post-war peace conferences at Yalta
and Potsdam
. From 1945 until 1952 he was private secretary to Herbert Stanley Morrison. He also chaired the committee for 1951's Festival of Britain
. During the war years he was in charge of organizing shipping operations and convoys across the Atlantic. He was involved in the planning of "Operation Overlord", the invasion of Europe. For his services he was awarded the CVO and CB.
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
and internationalist
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
, and a founder of the World Wildlife Fund
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
.
Early life
Max Nicholson, as he was known to all, was born in KilternanKilternan
Kilternan is a village in County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains south of Dublin, near the border with County Wicklow....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to English parents. His family moved to England in 1910, settling in Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
. He became interested in natural history after a visit to the natural history museum and later took to birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, beginning to maintain a list of birds seen from 1913.
He was educated at Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and then Hertford College
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
, Oxford from 1926, winning scholarships to both. At Oxford he read history, and visited Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
as a founder member of the University's Exploration Club. At Oxford he organized bird counts and censuses on the University's farm at Sanford.
Ornithology and conservation
He already had published his first work in 1926, Birds in England, and had three similar books published soon after. InThe Art of Bird-Watching (1931), he discussed the potential of co-operative birdwatching to inform the conservation debate. This led, in 1932, to the foundation of the British Trust for Ornithology
British Trust for Ornithology
The British Trust for Ornithology is an organisation founded in 1932 for the study of birds in the British Isles.-Activities:The BTO carries out research into the lives of birds, chiefly by conducting population and breeding surveys and by bird ringing, largely carried out by a large number of...
, of which he was the first treasurer and later chairman (1947–1949).
In 1949 he oversaw Part 3 of The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act which established a British state research council for natural sciences and 'biological service', The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
(1949–1973), and allowed for the legal protection of National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). He replaced Captain Cyril Diver as Director General of The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
in 1952 and served until 1966, just after the Conservancy lost its independent status. During his leadership the Conservancy established itself as a research and management body which promoted ecology as having broad relevance and application to land use decision-making and management. Monks Wood Experimental Station, which helped set up was perhaps the first to examine the effect of toxic chemicals on wildlife.
In 1952, while in Baluchistan
Baluchistan (Chief Commissioners Province)
The Chief Commissioner's Province of Baluchistan was a province of British India located in the northern parts of the modern Balochistan province.- History :...
, he contracted polio, which left him with a limp.
In 1961, he together with Victor Stolan
Victor Stolan
Victor Stolan provided "the germ of the idea" that led Julian Huxley and Max Nicholson with him to start the World Wildlife Fund. They together with others they recruited founded the organization on 11 September 1961 in Switzerland....
, Sir Peter Scott
Peter Scott
Sir Peter Markham Scott, CH, CBE, DSC and Bar, MID, FRS, FZS, was a British ornithologist, conservationist, painter, naval officer and sportsman....
and Guy Mountfort
Guy Mountfort
Guy Mountfort OBE was an English advertising executive, amateur ornithologist and conservationist.-Biography:...
formed the organising group that created the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (now the World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
). He was also a founder of the International Institute for Environment and Development
International Institute for Environment and Development
The International Institute for Environment and Development is a London-based policy research centre and think tank.- History :IIED was established by the economist Barbara Ward in 1971...
. In 1966 he set up and headed Land Use Consultants
Land Use Consultants
Land Use Consultants was founded in 1966 by Max Nicholson, former head of The Nature Conservancy. An independent environmental consultancy, LUC has offices in London, Glasgow, Bristol and Edinburgh....
, remaining with them until 1989. One of LUC's first reports was 'Parkways in principle and Practice'(1967), in which Nicholson urged that "the problems of recreation, traffic, environmental quality and conservation should be studied together . .", to form a category of parkways in Britain.
In 1978 Nicholson was instrumental in founding the ENDS Report which was later to become a highly influential journal for environmental policy specialists.
In 1947–1948, with the then director general of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' scientific and education organisation UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, Julian Huxley
Julian Huxley
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS was an English evolutionary biologist, humanist and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century evolutionary synthesis...
, he was involved in forming the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN) (now International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)).
From 1951 to 1960 he was the senior editor of "British Birds" and was the chief editor of The Birds of the Western Palearctic ("BWP", 1977–1994, OUP) from 1965–1992. He was the only author to stay with the project from start to end, personally writing the habitat sections of all species in the nine volumes.
In 1976 he was an instrumental part of the setting up of Britain's first urban ecology
Urban ecology
Urban ecology is a subfield of ecology which deals with the interaction between organisms in an urban or urbanized community, and their interaction with that community. Urban ecologists study the trees, rivers, wildlife and open spaces found in cities to understand the extent of those resources and...
park and the Trust for Urban Ecology
Trust for Urban Ecology
The Trust for Urban Ecology is a London based ecological organisation and is part of BTCV...
.
He was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
from 1980–1985, helped set up the New Renaissance Group and was a trustee of Earthwatch Europe.
He once appeared as a guest on Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
.
Other activities
Nicholson's 1931 essay A National Plan for Britain led to the formation of the influential policy think tank Political and Economic PlanningPolitical and Economic Planning
Political and Economic Planning was a British policy think tank, formed in 1931 in response to Max Nicholson's article A National Plan for Britain published in February of that year in Gerald Barry's magazine The Week-End Review....
(PEP), now the Policy Studies Institute
Policy Studies Institute
The Policy Studies Institute is a British think-tank. It was formed in 1978 through the merger of the former Centre for the Study of Social Policy and Political and Economic Planning. Since 1998 it has been an independent subsidiary of the University of Westminster...
. Nicholson had strong ideas on how a country should be run and wrote a book "The System".
He joined the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
in 1940, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
working for the Ministry of Shipping, then the Ministry of War Transport, attending conferences at Quebec and Cairo, and was with Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
at the post-war peace conferences at Yalta
Yalta
Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea.The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black...
and Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
. From 1945 until 1952 he was private secretary to Herbert Stanley Morrison. He also chaired the committee for 1951's Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
. During the war years he was in charge of organizing shipping operations and convoys across the Atlantic. He was involved in the planning of "Operation Overlord", the invasion of Europe. For his services he was awarded the CVO and CB.
Personal life
He married Mary Crawford in 1932 and they had two children, Piers and Tom. The marriage was dissolved in 1964 and Crawford died in 1995. Nicholson married his second wife, Marie Mauerhofer (known as Toni) in 1965; they had one child, a son, David. She died in 2002. Max Nicholson died in 2003, aged 98.Selected publications
- Birds In England (1926)
- How Birds Live (1927)
- The Art of Bird-Watching (1931)
- The Humanist Frame (1961) (contribution)
- The System: The Misgovernment of Modern Britain (1967)
- The Environmental Revolution : A Guide for the New Masters of the World (1970)