The heath in Kessel, Belgium is characterized by heather, swamps, drifting sand and ponds. Heath landscapes are a beautiful example of the interplay of culture and biodiversity. 6000 years ago 80 percent of Europe was still covered by forests. Heath areas naturally occurred only in very rare cases on coasts, in moorland areas and in the mountains. Then people started to use the forests for themselves. They required grazing land and thus not only changed the landscape, but also created new habitats for many different species. The extensive use of deforested and cleared areas resulted in increasingly nutrient-poor soils and grazing animals were bred that are particularly suitable for these areas. The upper layer of soil was regularly removed, mixed with animal manure and burned or applied to fields as fertilizer. The rain washed out the last nutrients and specially adapted plant species settled there, followed by rare animals.

These unique ecosystems survive only through active human intervention, which has been achieved through centuries of heath farming. However, this type of farming has become uneconomical, and a large part of the land has been converted into arable land by applying fertiliser. Other areas became forest again because keeping animals on nutrient-poor areas is associated with lower yields. With the loss of the heathland, numerous animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. And all the beauty that has always inspired painters and poets could simply disappear. It could hardly have been the biodiversity alone that led to active conservation efforts, but rather the cultural connection to this romanticized landscape form. We keep what we find beautiful and we can only find beautiful what we can see.

Near Machu Picchu is the beautiful village of Santa Teresa. This was the nicest place of my trip! The kids danced from morning to night and I really enjoyed staying in the main square and watching them. 👌☺

My last day in Cusco was spent exploring the museums included in the tourist ticket. Almost by chance I came past the Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo. What luck! Spontaneously, I lined up in the queue. I didn't know what to expect. Beside me in the queue an older man spoke to me. As a Swiss, he was able to talk to me in German. When we introduced ourselves by name, there was some confusion because we both are called Freddy. 😅

We enjoyed the one-hour dance performance together and had a very interesting conversation. He's married to a Peruvian for 9 years and told me a lot about country and people.