Magic Forests

In the early 1900s people with illnesses related to their lungs, like turbeculosss, went on pilgrimage to the "fresh air of the alps" to get rest and hopefully get better. Infact the air is cleaner than most of Europe. An easily seen indicator of that can be seen in the woods from Kummenalp to Ferden during any of the hikes going over the Lötschenpass. The indicator is lichens.

Lichens are organisms consisting of one fungus and usually one alga. Lichens are very tough organisms when it comes to clima. They can i.e. be found in deserts, in arctic places, rain forests, rocky coasts etc. They need no soil to be able to grow, because they take the water directly from the air. The fungus part takes care of collecting water and the alga part takes care of providing the organism with energy through photosynthesis.

The way they collect water though, makes them very vulnerable to air pollution and especially a substance called Sulfur dioxid (SO2). Sulfur dioxid comes mainly from petroleum and therefor cars, motorcycles, planes, industries and power plants. Fortunatly the air here in the alps is clean enough so that these magic forests may be. Lets keep it that way!

Simon (SE)

Summer High Season 2012