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The United Nations Conference on Resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

Carter Goodrich
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Extract

The United Nations Conference on the Conservation and Utilization of Resources was held in August and September 1949. More than seven hundred scientists, technicians and administrators from fifty countries came together at Lake Success. They had before them for discussion some five hundred and fifty papers applying science and technology to the problem of resource use. How–they asked–could waste of vital resources be prevented? Would critical shortages of essential materials lead inevitably to a lowering of the standard of life? By what methods could a wise use of natural resources make possible the support of the world's increasing population on a higher standard of living?

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Type
Articles
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International Organization , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , February 1951, pp. 48 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © The IO Foundation 1951

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References

1 Proceedings of the United Nations Scientific Conference on the Conservation and Utilization of Resources, Volume I, Plenary Meetings, United Nations: Lake Success, 1950. The following volumes are scheduled for publication early in 1951: II, Mineral Resources; III, Fuel and Energy Resources; IV, Water Resources; V, Forest Resources; VI, Land Resources; VII, Wildlife and Fish Resources; VIII, Index.

2 Ibid., I, p. iii.

3 For full reference to the relevant United Nations document, see ibid., p. vii–ix.

4 Ibid., p. xxiii. The Secretariat unit was headed by Alfred I. Van Tassel.

5 For reference to the work of the American Citizens' Committee for UNSCCUR, see ibid., p. xiii.

6 The Soviet Union took no part in the meeting or in the preparations for it. A number of papers from Czechoslovakia and two from Poland were contributed and form part of the Proceedings …, but no nationals from the Conference.

In the case of a non-voting conference there appeared to be no reason to set limits to the number of participants to be selected by a Member government. For a full list of contributors and participants, see ibid., p. xxix–liv.

7 See note on “Conference Method,” ibid., p. vii.

8 Ibid., p. 320. Mrs. Gifford Pinchot, United States.

9 Ibid., p. 421. William Borberg, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations.

10 Ibid., p. 409.

11 United Nations Scientific Conference on the Conservation and Utilization of Resources, Provisional Programme, United Nations: Lake Success, 1948, p. 3.

12 Proceedings …, I, p. 30. Edy Velander, Sweden.

13 Ibid., p. xvii, xix. The quotations are from the Report of the Secretary-General to the Economic and Social Council, presented December 28, 1949, and given in ibid., p. xvi–xxiv.

14 Ibid., p. 387–403.

15 Ibid., p. 405—422. Subsequent quotations, unless otherwise identified, are from this discussion.

16 Osborn, Fairfield, Our Plundered Planet, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1948Google Scholar. Vogt, William, The Road to Survival, New York: William Sloane, 1948Google Scholar. Both authors were participants in the Conference, and Mr. Osborn was a member of the Preparatory Committee.

17 Proceedings …, I, p. 94–99, 103–119. A. I. Levorsen, United States.

18 Ibid., p. 129–165.

19 Ibid., p. 411. Michael Graham, United Kingdom. S. L. Hora, India, took a leading part in the Fish and Wildlife Section on the techniques of pond-culture.

20 Provisional Programme, cited above, p. 5.

21 See, for example, Proceedings …, I p. 232–234, 419–420.

22 Ibid., p. 311. S. S. Bhatnagar, India.

23 Ibid., p. 226–227. J. Lossing Buck, FAO.

24 Ibid., p. 509. Isabella Leitch, United Kingdom.

25 Ibid., p. 77.

26 In the case of the United States, an admirable precedent for action in this spirit is provided by the cooperative program developed by the Institute of Inter-American Affairs.

It may not be inappropriate to point out that an active participant in the Resources Conference. and the leader of its Canadian delegations, Hugh L. Keenleyside (see ibid., p. 37–46, 126–27), has since served as chief of the United Nations technical assistance mission to Bolivia, and is now Director-General of the United Nations Technical Assistance Program.

27 Ibid., p. 429. See also ibid., I, 422, William Borberg.