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Fire for the flowering meadows

Apr 13, 2010 / alpMedia
In 2010, the "Fire in the Alps" campaign once more draws our attention to a burning issue with its signal fires during the second week of August. This year, the imposing fires on the heights will burn "for the protection of the alpine flowers", as a contribution to the Year of Biodiversity 2010.
Fire alarm: the alpine meadows are almost gone. This year, fire in the Alps signals that the natural environment of many plants and animals is threatened.
Image caption:
Fire alarm: the alpine meadows are almost gone. This year, fire in the Alps signals that the natural environment of many plants and animals is threatened. © Markus Jenny
In Switzerland, the meadows full of colourful flowers as we know them from tourism PR have almost all disappeared in the past sixty years. Over 90 per cent of the valuable dry meadows have been lost to intensive agriculture or have become covered with scrub, even though dry meadows belong to the most important habitats in the Alps: they are the environment in which about half of the plant and animal species live.
This year's mountain fires are once again a sign of solidarity with the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Alps - the colourful alpine meadows and grasslands, in this case. All organizations and private persons who want to show environmental commitment can participate in the fires. CIPRA Switzerland is responsible for international coordination.
Source and all further information: www.feuerindenalpen.com/ (de/en/it)