Volunteers to improve biodiversity in pastures

Ten volunteers activated for six days in August at the Chalet-Vieux de Culan above the Diablerets. Consequently, This pro Natura Vaud camp aimed to clean the meadows of alders and spruces that tend to invade pasture areas. For example, A way also for participants to recharge their batteries far from civilization.

Located two good hours from the Vaudois Alpes station. For example, at an altitude of 1,700 meters, the Chalet-Vieux de Culan field has belonged to Pro Natura since 1974. Furthermore, The Nature Protection Association has been rented for ten years this protected area to a peasant who continues to exploit it in summer. For example, says Markus Arn, project manager at Pro Natura Switzerland and coordinator of the camp.

During the week. Similarly, participants – five Germans, three Germans and two Romandes between 20 and 70 years old – are hosted in volunteers improve biodiversity pastures a dormitory of the old pasture cheese dairy which has not been used for 20 years. Moreover, Everyone participates in the costs up to some 200 francs per person.

“We must register early to participate in these camps which are a certain success, in particular across the Röstigraben. Therefore, The demand far exceeds the supply,” underlines Mr. Similarly, Arn.

At the Chalet-Vieux de Culan. Consequently, the development is spartan: a common dormitory under the roofs, no electricity, toilets and shower “with hot water” outside. Meanwhile, On the other hand, the team is fortunate to have a volunteer cook. Moreover, “No need to eat after work,” said Urs, a retired Zurich volunteer.

Sisyphe work – Volunteers improve biodiversity pastures

Just above the Chalet-Vieux de Culan. next to the herd of around thirty nursing cows, their young and a bull, volunteers, bandanas or caps on their heads, are busy cutting the bush of Aulnes and the fir volunteers improve biodiversity pastures trees that garnish the well-stered pasture. “Sisyphe work,” comments Mr. Arn.

Alder is a shrub with dark green oval leaves, which measures 3 to 4 meters high. It develops from 1100 meters above sea level. up to the Alpine Forest limit, joking in the avalanche corridors and the Torrents beds, explains the manager. Problem: it spreads at high speed. Its advance leads to the scarcity of plants, insects and birds, without counting soil acidification.

By hand – Volunteers improve biodiversity pastures

In the nature reserve. it is a question of cutting these bushes to flush, sometimes in scree, “a task not always easy. The more you cut it young. the better, because over time, it becomes more and more difficult to eliminate”, notes the coordinator.

“Goats are sometimes used,” he adds. “When they are hungry, they indeed devour the shoots and bark of Aulnes, thus causing the death of the shrub. But it would take volunteers improve biodiversity pastures an electrified enclosure to cloister them. Here, everything is done by hand”.

Unattractive for cattle

Stunning on steep slopes. dispersing on the edge of a torrent, the volunteers cut the bush of alders by means of large and heavy pliers. To debit the isolated spruces – which are also well with the alders – they use small saws.

“The forest is expanding in Switzerland. open and semi-open pastures are of great importance for a lot of animal and plant species. The areas too invaded by the vernes and spruces become less attractive for cattle which no longer graves it. This work makes it possible to prevent them from closing too much. ” observes Kelly Delavy, responsible for natural reserves with Pro Natura Vaud.

Relief for the peasant

The action to contain burst on this pasture has been organized for over ten years. “The volunteers relieve us enormously of all these volunteers improve biodiversity pastures little works that we do not have time to do in summer. which falls to us in autumn after the quenching,” underlines Pascal Güttinger, the farmer who rents the land in Pro Natura Vaud and whose main past alpine is at the Etivaz.

“Ten times seven to eight hours a day (Wednesday being a rest day). it is not nothing in a time of the year when we are very busy,” he slips.

Empty your head

Cindy, a young Valais geology student, participates for the first time in such a camp. She experiences “a certain satisfaction in carrying out a monotonous and outside task. It is physical and it helps to realize the daily life of a farmer,” she said.

And to underline the good atmosphere that reigns between the members of the group who did not know each. other before the experience. “You don’t even need to turn on volunteers improve biodiversity pastures her laptop,” she smiles.

“Each time. the experience is enriched,” says Marie-Andrée, the Alsatian volunteer who prepares vegetarian meals for the whole team and who admits to keep some bacon in the reserve. Accustomed to these camps, she says she is thrilled by “this Spartan lifestyle, far from civilization”.

This article was published automatically. Source: ATS