Preface of the Editors - MusÃ©e national d'histoire naturelle

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C. Ries & Y. Krippel Preface of the EditorsConference scientific commiee• Guy Colling, researcher at the NationalMuseum of Natural History• Alain Faber, curator at the National Museum ofNatural History• Yves Krippel, research associate of the NationalMuseum of Natural History• Christian Ries, curator at the National Museumof Natural History, president of the LuxembourgNaturalist Society• Jean-Marie Sinner, head of Diekirch forestrydistrict, Water and Forests Administration• Fernand Spier, president of the LuxembourgPrehistory Society• Norbert Stomp, honorary director of theNational Museum of Natural History• François Valoeau, researcher at the NationalMuseum of History and Art• Jean Werner, president of the Study groupfor the preservation of the natural heritage ofLuxembourg Lile SwitzerlandConference organizing commiee• Georges Bechet, director of the NationalMuseum of Natural History• Marie-Paule Kremer, Ministry of Environment• Frantz-Charles Muller, president of Foundation'Hëllef fir d’Natur' and NATURA• Christian Ries, curator at the National Museumof Natural History, president of the LuxembourgNaturalist Society• Jean-Marie Sinner, head of Diekirch forestrydistrict, Water and Forests Administration• François Valoeau, researcher at the NationalMuseum of History and ArtBackground and aimsof the conferenceSandstone regions are scaered all over Europe.Even if different in age and composition, theyall show a great number of similitudes. Distinctgeomorphologic features oen create stronggradients in mesoclimatic conditions and generatehigh levels of natural disturbance and resultingpatch dynamics. In sandstone regions thesedynamic geomorphologic processes occur at ratesunseen in the surroundings. The special climaticor microclimatic conditions in sandstone regionsinduce a mosaic of biotopes hosting specific floraand fauna. The occurring species are oen of relictnature and a testimony of climatic conditions andvegetation in place earlier in this interglacial.Sandstone areas are not only a phenomenon ofgeological and biological interest. They are wellknown for their prehistoric past, and rock sheltersprovided excellent opportunities for humanselements. Later, the outstanding landscapes ofsandstone regions have aracted human aention,particularly since the Romantic period. It wasthe beginning of tourism, a phenomenon thatnowadays oen causes irreversible problems inthese fragile environments.In order to preserve the invaluable landscapes andecosystems, associated to sandstone landscapes,there is a strong need for research, nature andlandscape conservation with concrete managementplans, environmental friendly tourism, etc.The first sandstone conference in Doubice, CzechRepublic, revealed that the uniqueness of geomorphologicand ecological processes in sandstoneregions calls for a much more intimate linkbetween geomorphology, climatology, landscapehistory and biology/ecology, etc. and initiatedthe so-called 'sandstone community', a databaseof people interested in research and conservationof sandstone landscapes. More information canbe found on the 'Sandstone Landscapes' websitewww.sandstones.org, providing informationabout the research and events on sandstonelandscapes, especially in Europe (Härtel 2005).This second international conference on sandstonetried to carry on the effort devoted to bridgingall the concerned disciplines. The organizersintended that this conference would - amongstothers - identify which general research topicscan use sandstone regions as particularly suitablemodel systems; permit the comparison of differentsandstone regions in Europe and point out similarities;establish new contacts and further collaborationamong people interested in sandstoneregions; address conservation issues specific forsandstone regions (tourism, rock climbing, restorationmanagement); etc.Scientific programmeThe scientific programme consisted of plenarylectures, poster sessions, discussions and excursions.Four major topics were covered by 26 oralcommunications and 16 posters:1. Evolution of sandstone landscapes:geology and geomorphologySandstone is a quite common rock type, whichcharacterizes different regions and yet each8Ferrantia • 44 / 2005
C. Ries & Y. Krippel Preface of the Editorssandstone formation differs somehow from theother by its mineralogical composition or by itsorigin. Today the geological evolution of theseareas shows a landscape revealing many erosionfeatures, joint paerns and rockslides fromrecent time, as well as a lot of elements from thegeological past. The erosion oen formed eithernarrow valleys into a sandstone plateau, or slopesof a cuesta, or bues as residual hills or outliers,etc.2. Archaeology of sandstone landscapes:from Prehistory to the Middle AgesThere is no doubt about the importance ofsandstone landscapes from Prehistory to theMiddle Ages. Archaeology contributes to theknowledge of the old populations within thelimits given by the subject. Following topics areof special interest: the habitat and its additionalactivities, as well as architecture; burials, anthropologyand taphonomy in sandy context; petroglyphsand rupestral art.3. Flora, fauna and microclimate ofsandstone ecosystemsSandstone formations with their typical erosionfeatures are known for special microclimaticconditions. Great variations in both humidity andtemperature - including temperature inversion -are responsible for a huge diversity of plants andanimals. The proliferation of Atlantic and sub-Atlantic species is remarkable; the presence ofmountain and sub-mountain species is significant.Besides higher plants, the diversity of pteridophytesand the richness of nonvascular cryptogamslike bryophytes and lichens of sandstone regionsis in general outstanding. On the other hand, thesandstone outcrops, as well as extended woodsand moist valleys offer habitats for a rich wildlife.4. Human impact on sandstonelandscapes: threats and protectionSandstone landscapes oen became the victimsof their own success. Exploited and inhabitedby man since prehistory, visited and solicited bymodern man, seeking relaxation and ventures inthese spectacular landscapes, the extreme fragilesandstone habitats are more and more threatened.In order to preserve the natural and culturalheritage of sandstone landscapes, concretemeasures must be initiated and a tourism in accordancewith the environment promoted.Course of the Symposium88 participants aended the conference, includingspeakers and translation staff (cf. list of participants).Pre-conference excursionThe pre-conference excursion on WednesdayMay 25 took the participants by bus to the heartof the “Petite Suisse” area. The participants weresplit into two groups according to the conferencelanguages English and French.On the programme: sandstone formations, forestsand valleys around Berdorf and Beaufort (Fig. 1).The prehistoric sites of 'Kalekapp', petroglyphsand vandalism, rock formations and erosion,different forest associations, flora (including filmyferns), fauna, rock climbing and related problems,tourism as well as nature conservation, were onlysome of the topics.The field trip was rather demanding, but thebarbecue during lunch break in the stunningscenery of Beaufort castle helped to forget achinglegs and sunburn.The guides were: Guy Colling, Alain Faber, AnneHauzeur, Yves Krippel, Jean-Marie Sinner andFrançois Valoeau.The conferenceThe plenary sessions lasted the next two days, fromThursday May 26 to Friday May 27. The venuewas the 'Centre culturel Larei', a former tannerycomplex transformed by the city of Vianden into acultural centre. An abstract book was provided bythe organizers (Ries 2005).Instead of grouping the communications by majorthemes into distinct Symposia, the organizingcommiee was so audacious to mix up thecontributions independently of their topic (cf.Fig. 1: Pre-conference excursion in the Müllerthal area,May 25 2005. Photo: Milkuláš Radek.Ferrantia • 44 / 2005 9
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