48o 



NA TV RE 



[Septembkr 29, 1923 



declared protected areas. The chief work of the 

 Commission, however, has l>een the creation of a Swiss 

 National Park. After many attempts an area of 

 alK)ut 140 sq. kilometres in the Ofen district of the 



Fig. 3. — Timber line at Muiit la Schera. (Larch and Pinus cciiibra.) 



Lower Engadine was secured (between the years 

 1909 and 19 14) as a Complete Nature Reserve. 



This district is peculiarly suitable for the purpose 

 for the following reasons : Its mean elevation above 

 sea-level is considerable, in consequence of which the 

 snow line lies as high as 3000 

 metres and the alpine tree limit 

 at 2300 metres. Alpine life, 

 therefore, can be widely distri- 

 buted within the area. In wild- 

 ness and naturalness, as in 

 loneliness and seclusion, it is 

 scarcely surpassed anywhere in 

 Switzerland. It is very sparsely 

 populated, so that the pro- 

 hibition of forestry and grazing 

 operations involve but little 

 hardship for its human inhabit- 

 ants. It possesses extensive 

 forests, of which the 2600 

 hectares of dense forest of the 

 erect mountain pine {Pinus 

 montana, var. arborea) deser\c 

 special mention. There are also 

 magnificent forests of Pinus 

 cembra, mixed woods of spruce 

 and larch (Picea excelsa and 

 Larix europaea), a peculiar 

 mountain race of Scotch fir 



{Pinus sylvestris, var. engadinensis), and exten- 

 sive areas occupied by the creeping mountain pine 

 {Pinus montana, var. prostrata). In addition to the 

 great abundance of conifers there is also a rich herb- 

 aceous flora, the great variety of geological substrata 

 rendering possible the existence of both calcicole and 

 calcifuge plants. The dividing line between the floras 

 of the western and eastern alps passes through the 



NO. 2813, VOL. I 12] 



region. In the National Park there is, therefore, a 

 mingling of eastern and western form.s, many eastern 

 species occurring, so far as Switzerland is concerned, 

 only in this district. Animal life, too, is abundant, 

 chamois, marmots, deer, foxes, 

 black game, golden «;u'1«s ( t< . 

 enlivening the Ian'' 



The greater j>.wt ... i-.i 

 National Park is leased by the 

 State from the owners of the 

 land for a period of ninety-nine 

 years, the State alone haviru 

 the power to terminate the < i;;- 

 tract. The State has further 

 pledged itself to contribute a 

 sum not e.\ceeding 30,000 francs 

 per annum for the rent of the 

 Park. Human interference is 

 absolutely excluded from the 

 whole region. Hunting, fishing, 

 manuring, grazing, mowing and 

 wood-cutting are entirely pro- 

 hibited. No flower or twig may 

 be plucked, no animal killed and 

 no stone removed ; even the 

 fallen trees must remain un- 

 touched. In this way absolute 

 protection is secured for scenery, 

 plants, and animals ; Nature alone is dominant. Any one 

 may visit the Park, but only simple alpine shelter huts 

 are provided — no hotels are allowed to be erected. Camp- 

 ing and the lighting of fires are prohibited. The custo- 

 dianship of the Park is entrusted to four resident keepers. 



. 4.— .VIp U Schcra wiih Mum La .Schera Ui" >"• ^-'^^^ 



The Schweizerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft has 

 undertaken to carry out a thorough scientific investi- 

 gation of the National Park, and its Scientific Park 

 Committee is now engaged on this work. The initial 

 task is the preparation of complete lists of species 

 inhabiting the reserve. Further, by means of exact 

 surveys of selected areas, repeated from time to time, 

 it is hoped to study — as the previous influence of man 



