International Orchids Conference Highlights Monte Baldo’s Conservation and Eco-Tourism

An international success for Giros (Italian group researching wild orchids) and a global resonance for San Zeno di Montagna and Monte Baldo. These, in brief, are the results achieved by the International Conference on Wild Orchids of Europe held at Park Hotel Jolanda in San Zeno di Montagna.

Once again, Monte Baldo confirmed its reputation as an “Hortus Europae,” highlighted not only by the presence of a rich flora set within a landscape capable of offering unforgettable emotions, but also by its potential to serve as the ideal container and catalyst, within the Verona area, for refined and borderless eco-tourism. The diversity in the origins of the participants underscored this point.

Participants and curiosities

“Of the over one hundred registrants,” explained Paolo Liverani, national president of Giros, “more than thirty came from various regions across Europe. We had with us, in fact, participants from England, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, and Sweden. Among the attendees, there was even a Greek scholar from the island of Chios, and two Lithuanians who, driven by boundless enthusiasm, endured two days by bus going there and two days returning just to attend.”

The success, according to everyone, was extraordinary—so much so that it left even the local organizers, namely the initiative’s creator, Ennio Agrezzi, and his collaborators Michele Dal Cin and Galeazze Sciaretta, pleasantly surprised. The latter, credited with successfully applying his corporate organizational skills to the practical realization of the conference, attempted to downplay, at the conclusion of the event, the credit that all participants enthusiastically attributed to the organizers, assuring that the main factor behind the event’s success was time, which surprisingly proved to be very lenient.

Expert opinions and future results

“In reality,” said Herbert Tichy from the University of Tübingen and renowned orchid researcher, “it will be difficult in the future to repeat a congress of this caliber, both in terms of organization and the choice of venue, not to mention the quality of the presentations.”

Internationally significant scientific contributions were also made, and “a very positive impact of these new research efforts will be felt,” emphasized Paolo Grunanger from the scientific committee, “not only in the abstract study of these species but also in their practical conservation.”

Carlo Del Prete, from the Botanical Garden of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and a member of the scientific committee of “Orchis 2000,” commented at the close of the event alongside Paolo Grunanger on the good environmental condition of Monte Baldo, albeit limited to its higher elevations.

“The study of orchids and the identification of their presence in the territory,” the two scientists specified, “allow for a parallel assessment of the health of the natural environment, because the relationship among flower, insect, and environment quality—particularly for orchids—is still very good on Baldo.”

Hence, our most beautiful and renowned mountain did not disappoint in front of numerous international guests; quite the opposite. Moreover, Baldo and San Zeno di Montagna will become world stars in the botanical field within a few months, once the proceedings of the conference are published by Richard Lorenz, president of the Spontaneous Orchids Association of Baden-Württemberg, in the International Journal of Orchid Studies, a worldwide publication.

The impact of this congress on the local economy will inevitably be felt sooner or later.

Acknowledgments and thanks

Absolutely everything the organizers dreamed of came to fruition. “It’s clear,” they affirm, “that this result was not accidental but the outcome of meticulous preparation over four years, supported by the contributions of individuals and organizations that believed in the initiative and actively helped make it happen. Among these, we must especially mention the Apt of Garda, which provided the secretariat, entrusted to Carla Zauli, an extraordinary person, and the mayor of San Zeno, Cipriano Castellani, who also provided financial support. Additionally, the president of the Apt, Enrico Merenda, the provincial tourism department, and the Monte Baldo Community supported us.”