title: [Conservation and natural history around 1900: the contribution of the Sarasin cousins].
abstract: Some basic concepts for the creation of the Swiss National Park were derived from observations made in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and New Caledonia. European researchers feared that the study of "virgin nature" would no longer be possible, as various species would soon become extinct under the combined influences of colonial practices and profit-oriented capitalism. While the motives for protecting nature originated from experiences made in the southern hemisphere, their scientific concept of conservation was based on European natural history and the related theories of evolution. In the light of this approach, endangered zoological and botanical species as well as "primitive" varieties of man were appreciated as "documents" to be preserved within their original environment for future scientific reference and research. Museum collections and reservations (parks) were two types of repositories connected to each other by the same objective.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D019021:Natural History / Q000266:history*; D013557:Switzerland