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Events - 19.02.2014 - 00:00 

"Pure nature – managed nature"

In the public lecture series entitled "Pure nature – managed nature", the issues dealt with by six experts include the questions as to why nature reserves were established and what research is conducted there. The lectures will start on 26 February 2014.
Source: HSG Newsroom

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19 February 2014. In the early 20th century, voices were raised in favour of protecting Switzerland's last untouched regions. The Val Cluoza was proposed as a nature reserve. For the owner, the Municipality of Zernez, the area was of little agricultural value. The Swiss National Park, which was set up in 1914, included additional areas, which had been severely overexploited by timber cutting and pasturage. Nature was meant to restore its own primordial nature without any human influence – a process which is still going on today and has been scientifically supervised and evaluated from the start.

Of stags, bears and wolves

Why are nature reserves established? What is explored in them? Why do many people welcome the return of large predators such as bears and wolves to Switzerland, which is densely populated after all? What interest is there in geological peculiarities? How does one manage a jungle area near an urban space? These are questions that will be dealt with by the experts in the lecture series.

The first lecture will be given by Dr. Britta Allgöwer, Director of the Lucerne Nature Museum. She will speak about "Research and management in the Swiss National Park – a strong partnership". On 12 March, Dr. Urs Breitenmoser from KORA (Coordinated Research Projects for Predators), Muri, Canton of Berne, will focus on "The return of large predators to Switzerland – science between emotions and politics".

"Research – to what end?"
On 26 March Dr. Robert Meier, Arnal, Büro für Natur und Landschaft AG in Herisau, will ask the question "Why conduct research in a nature reserve?" He will focus, in particular, on the Schwägalp/Säntis Research Nature Reserve. On 9 April, David Imper, Impergeologie AG in Heiligkreuz (Mels), will provide an insight into "The Sardona Tectonic Arena", a World Heritage Site in Eastern Switzerland where it can be seen extremely well how mountain ranges come into existence. The Zurich Sihlwald Wilderness Reserve will be presented by its Deputy Chief Executive, Isabelle Roth: a "Non-management of nature near a City". The lecture series will be concluded on 14 May by Theo Schnider, Director of the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch. He will use the Entlebuch model to explain "The successful management of processes of Change".

The lectures will take place at the University of St.Gallen in HSG Room 01-011 and will start at 8.15 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Picture: Mella / Photocase

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