A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future

A fixture on public television for more than six decades, David Attenborough has produced, appeared in, and/or narrated dozens of programs on the natural world (see Further Reading & Resources for a list of his most acclaimed projects). He has received numerous awards, including the BAFTA fellowship and the Michael Faraday Prize, and has the unique honor of being knighted twice—once in 1985 and again in 2022—for drawing attention to the natural world and its need for protection. He is perhaps the most visible spokesperson for conservation and biodiversity working through the twentieth and into the twenty-first centuries. He has even had scientific research vessels and several animal and plant species named after him.

Attenborough forged a career at the BBC by traveling far and wide, capturing captivating images and iconic moments with living creatures across the globe. His influential series, Life on Earth, released in 1979, led to an extraordinary series of documentaries that span 30 years, all under the umbrella title, Life. He also participated in the groundbreaking series, The Blue Planet, as well as Planet Earth and Planet Earth II. His most recent endeavors, both released in 2022, are Prehistoric Planet and Frozen Planet II, where he serves as narrator.