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Idea and purpose of Research field-trip |
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The degradation of the forest nature in the region Norrland, in the north of Sweden, has been ongoing since the sawmill industry seriously received an impetus in the last half of the 19th century. In the beginning, the encroachment was small in relation to the remaining area of virgin forests and natural forests. Now, much of the old-growth forest is gone. Not even 9 per cent of the productive old-growth forest below the sub-alpine forests, which should be excluded from forestry in Norrland for nature conservation purposes according to the long-term Swedish environmental quality objective “Sustainable forests”, can be found.
When Anders Delin in the early 1990’s initiated the Research field-trip, he thought that most biologists and people with knowledge about species were active in the south of Sweden, in the regions Götaland and Svealand, even though the largest still not protected natural values of the forest were to be found in the region Norrland. This has to a large extent been proved to be true. By attracting the knowledgeable biologists to the outfields, i.e. the outskirts, his thought was that their knowledge would benefit nature conservation more than if they only would have worked in their home areas.
The people who have participated in the field-trip have had a wide variety of experiences and knowledge in very different areas. Mainly, it has been in the fields of forest biology, vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, beetles, hemipterons (true bugs) and birds, which some participants have had great expertise. Other people participate to learn more and to enjoy the wilderness scenery. Even children have participated and contributed to everyone's experiences.
Combine useful work with pleasure
Specialists who have participated have been very generous. No question has been too stupid to ask and each enthusiastic exclamation has been contagious. No organism in the forest diversity has been too insignificant to examine under the microscope. Quite often at least some people among the participants have learnt something during these deep dives into the terrain. Often, an expert in a particular area, has made interesting findings within a species group that he or she does not know that much about. Sometimes a beginner makes the most interesting finding of today.
Aesthetic values
Everybody who has participated in the Research field-trip has also experienced aesthetic nature. Many people have photographed, some are active artists. Perhaps the experience justifies the writing about nature. The Research field-trip is not only about science, research, documentation and nature conservation debates. What you see in the nature and under the magnifying glass also provide strong aesthetic experiences that you bring home with you and gladly spread among friends and acquaintances.
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