Ahead of his trip to Hong Kong, legendary British explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison tells Andrew James about the future of exploration, adventure tourism, and what's left of the world to uncover.

How have explorers and expeditions changed in the past 50 years?

The big change has been the realisation that we know so little about how the world really works. In the high days of Victorian exploration, there was an arrogant assumption that everything was there to be identified and analysed by man. Now we are beginning to see how truly complex nature is and how difficult it is going to be to put right all the careless damage we have done.

To what extent has the proliferation of adventure tourism changed, or infringed on the world of exploration?

Of course there is a downside to adventure tourism, but my impression is that those who test themselves today against the elements, or seek to see the wilder side of life, are much more environmentally responsible than they used to be. There is nothing at all wrong with a desire for adventure and it often leads people to devote their lives to helping to save the planet.

What are areas you feel are still open for exploration?

Vast areas. Apart from the obvious ones like space and the deep oceans, the world we thought we knew turns out to be barely explored at all. 93 per cent of the taxa [living organisms] on Earth have not been identified and classified, let alone understood. It is just beginning to dawn on us that we simply don’t understand how the incredible variety of symbiotic relationships which constitute ‘nature’ actually hang together and interact. As we reach the limits of our natural resources, we really shouldn’t do anything until we understand fully what the effect will be. And yet we continue to blunder into massive ‘development’ schemes, which will clearly have catastrophic results.

What's left of the world to uncover?

An example: caves. It is estimated by the world’s top caver, who is a friend of mine, that barely 10 per cent of the underground passages in the world have been discovered. Much current exploration is in China.

How do life-threatening moments while exploring change the way you see the world?

My main emotion when in great danger has been fear that my failure will embarrass and cause grave inconvenience to my family and friends, let alone the British Embassy representatives who may have to organise a rescue. This helps to concentrate the mind on getting out of danger.

How do you reconcile the fact that you advocate for the autonomy of uncontacted tribes while at the same time seeking to reach new parts of the world (and, presumably, people) through your exploring?

Good question. Although I have visited and sometimes lived with over 100 remote tribal peoples, I have never sought out uncontacted people, who are of course the most vulnerable, and nor has [my organisation] Survival. The people we help are those who have already had unsatisfactory contact and are suffering (or about to suffer) the effects. It is very important to make sure that even these contacts do not bring disease to the people, or disadvantage them in any way. You are right to ask how the conflicting desire to travel to remote places and concern for the welfare of those who live there can be reconciled. Survival has often had issues with those, such as filmmakers, who have put their commercial aspirations ahead of the welfare of those they are visiting.

What problems arise for tribes and tribal regions as more ecotourism operators move for remoter areas? Do you see this style of travel as a benefit or hindrance of tribes?

In theory, ecotourism can be a good thing, and there are many good examples of it, especially when it is controlled by the indigenous people themselves. All too often, however, it is a cover for familiar exploitation.

What advice, or warnings, do you have for those hoping to follow in your footsteps?

You can’t beat my mother’s advice to me when I set off on my early travels into the unknown: “Do dangerous things sensibly.” Today, because we are so much more aware of the fragility of our planet, this needs expanding to include: "and be very aware of the effect you are having.”

Robin Hanbury-Tenison lectures on his new book, Land of Eagles, on March 16 at 2/F, Olympic House, Causeway Bay.