The last ten years have seen immense advances in the conservation field in the United States. Thanks to the hard spadework of the conservation bodies, the general attitude towards wildlife has changed from ignorant and unregarding exploitation to demands for wise use on a sustained yield basis; people's interest in and knowledge about conservation has made possible a long and varied list of legislation. More than any other one person the man responsible for this is Stewart Udall, for the past eight years Secretary of the Interior with charge of all conservation matters. On his retirement in January this year Mr Udall kindly accepted our invitation to sum up this remarkable ‘new look’ in the USA.