Between the 25 June and 02 July 2022, the 33rd International Wildlife Research Week (IWRW) was held in the Val Müstair. 18 teenagers from 9 different European countries were working for one week on ecological, behavioural & systematic questions of the local fauna and flora.

The rainy weather in the middle of the week was a bit challenging, but the guides were able to adjust the program by shifting the field work to Thursday and Friday and start to write the report on the rainier days.

A lot of different projects could be conducted during the week. The students showed great motivation while collecting & evaluating data, writing their project reports and presenting the results on Friday to the other groups. Please read the results in the final reports at the end of the page.

“I learned how to work scientifically; to collect the data during the fieldwork, and to put it in a certain structure to reach a conclusion. Also, the people that I met were so cool, and I will miss them. Overall, the study week was a great opportunity to meet new people and to learn about since; It was great at any rate.” Marius Reindl, Academia Matura Bern, Switzerland

“A lot of fun. Really interesting to work with people from all around the world. Extraordinary guides. I learned a lot about plants and diversity.” Noun El Moudden, Gymnase francais, Switzerland

“It was a great oppertunity to meet new friends, experience the Alps and try to do some fieldwork.“ Ida Wikberg, Sweden

“I feel like I learned a lot in the camp, not only regarding butterflies but also the process of field work and data collection. I also gained insight on the creation of a research project to a further extent then what I have been taught in school and I believe that will prove itself to be very useful in my future studies.” Michael Maffe, The American School, Switzerland

Final Reports from IWRW 2022 (Download Link):

  • Examining the effects of fertilization on plant species richness in meadows of Val Müstair
  • What effects do different land use types have on butterfly diversity
  • Effect of different environmental factors on distribution of pinguicula spp.
  • Niche separation of common adders (Vipera berus) and asp vipers (Vipera aspis) in the Val Müstair
  • Did the distribution of amphibians change since 1980
  • The Alpine Marmots flight response to different type of anthropogenic disturbance