Jean Massart, Pionnier De La Conservation De La Nature En Belgique

Abstract

(Jean Massart, a pioneer of Nature Conservation in Belgium). Jean Massart was born in Brussels in 1865. After gaining the title Doctor of Sciences and Doctor of Medicine at ULB, the young graduate was immediately hired as a researcher in Prof. P. Héger’s laboratory of human pathology. In 1892, he was offered a position as an assistant at the world-famous L. Errera Botanical Institute at ULB. From this time, he dedicated most of his time to plant biology. At the age of 32 he became Professor of Botany and started a career of field research without giving up his laboratory activities. Carrying out at the same time his functions of teacher, director of the Botanical Institute, and curator of the State Botanical Garden of Belgium (1902–1905), he started a large study of the Belgian flora, especially aimed at geobotany and plant adaptation to the environment. These investigations led to two works giving a thorough insight into the state of Nature in Belgium at the beginning of the 20th century. The first, of 166 high quality 30 x 40 cm photographic plates, shows the importance given by Massart to natural vegetation but also to rural landscapes and human activities. The second gives an outstanding synthesis of personal data collected during ten years in the field and the main geological, climatic and soil data available at this time, and concerning the 13 natural districts he indicated for the whole Belgian territory. This book points out the progressive outlook of Massart, who achieved an ecological synthesis ahead of his time. In 1912, he published an underlying book on nature conservation in Belgium, then the most industrialized country of continental Europe. His approach is multidisciplinary, taking into account the past (prehistory, history, palaeontology, etc.), present (aesthetics, welfare, natural resources protection and life conditions) and future (sustainable development). Massart can be considered a true forerunner of nature conservation because his ideas still support such European and international programmes. Massart published many other scientific papers across a range of botanical sciences, and also dedicated much time to scientific popularisation.