Josef h. Reichhlf – Wikipedia Wikipedia

Josef Helmut Reichholf (Born April 17, 1945 in Aigen am Inn) is a German zoologist, evolutionary biologist and ecologist, who has repeatedly caused a stir as a book author with provocative theses.

Reichholf’s father died during the Second World War in Poland before the birth of the only son. Josef Reichholf grew up with his mother and grandmother in Lower Bavaria at the Inn. ^[first] There he was fascinated by nature and wilderness of the lower Inn. After studying biology, chemistry, geography and tropical medicine, a scholarship enabled him to stay in Brazil, where he researched the tropical biodiversity.

Together with Bernhard Grzimek, Horst Stern and Hubert Weinzierl, he founded the “Group Ecology” in Munich in the early 1970s, a nucleus of the later founded Confederation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND). ^[2]

Reichholf is a honorary professor at the Technical University of Munich ^[3] And from 1974 to 2010 was the head of the ornithology of the Munich Zoological State Collection. ^{[4] [5]} Reichholf was a member of the Presidium of the WWF Germany. In 2005 he was awarded the Treviranus medal of the Association of German Biologists, in 2007 he received the Sigmund Freud Prize for Scientific Prosa of the German Academy of Language and Poetry for his generally understandable contributions to ecology.

Reichholf is the author of numerous books on nature and nature conservation, ecology, evolution, climate and environmental protection. He also gives public lectures on these topics, gives interviews and appears on television in discussion rounds. ^[first] He is perceived in public as a controversial lateral thinker and provocateur. ^{[6] [3]}

Since October 2018, Reichholf has been one of the two honorary presidents of the association for landscape maintenance and species protection in Bavaria. In it he followed the Enoch zu Guttenberg, who died in 2018.

Reichholf sees shoulder conclusions from science and politics or industry, for example in climate protection or third -party funds research, as they endangered the independence of science. ^[7]

Reichholf accuses the movement of climate protection. ^[8] Among other things, he speaks of “catastrophism” in climate protection and forest deaths and demands that “the wrong prophets” ^[9] to be accountable for the consequences of their dark forecasts, provided that they can be checked at all. ^[ten]

In his book A short history of the last millennium ^[11] If Reichholf contradicts the thesis that global warming will lead to loss of species because scientific research into habitats shows a different finding (immigration and emigration of species). For example, the invention of the artificial fertilizer has led to an increasingly massive over -fertilization (eutrophication) and to grow to grow entire areas that were previously “cleared out” and bare. This creates less and less sun on the ground, so that heat -loving species migrated. The fixation on climate warming directs far more real and pressing problems such as eutrophication, feed imports, biodiversity, etc. that affect us and nature more direct and immediate. There is an urgent need for action here.

According to Reichholf, changes are particularly necessary in nature conservation. In his book Natural reserve. Crisis and future ^[twelfth] If he even favored the idea of ​​making the red list of endangered types from year to year longer and more unmanageable, in principle to “protect every animal species” and only cancel the protection in justified exceptional cases. With such a reversal of the existing system (so far it has to be justified why an (animal) kind is worth protecting), the moral basic position of equality of all types is taken into account (why should only songbirds be protected and, for example, small mammals?).

Reichholf also sees no reason to look at new animal and plant species (neozoa, neophytes) per se with mistrust. The reasons for their success are usually grievances caused by humans (such as over -fertilization); It is important to act against them, not against the immigrants. ^[13]

Reichholf also criticizes that those interested in nature would be locked out from nature reserves, while hunters and anglers could access free access and claim claims. The general public, the tax -paying citizen, must submit ideologically justified laws in the interest of a small minority (hunting). ^[14]

Among the title “In the beginning was the beer”, Reichhelf’s thesis was known and was often discussed in press and television, ^[15] that the origin of agriculture and settlement of man was the warehousing and processing of intoxicating foods. In the east, the “opium zone” begins with the poppy seed, on the Indian Ocean it is Betelnut and Khat, the Peyote-Kactus and the Coca smoke in Central America. In the Middle East, the beer brewery based on the barley cultivation was a major driving force long before the bread bakery was invented. In contrast to grain, beer as a food was stable and you could celebrate intoxicating community festivals. The storage of beer as well as the grain supplies and the clay pots and barrels required for this would have reduced the mobility of the hunters and collectors. Reichholf contradicts the common thesis that the settlement of man has been associated with a shortage of hunting game. ^[16]

Reichholf is of the opinion that the productivity of nature (e.g. soil fertility) and the climate had determined the existence or decline of cultures and empires and that many different events in human history could be explained by climate changes. For example, the crusades in the Middle Ages and the Romantic era in the 18th and 19th centuries ultimately went back to the warm climate at the time. ^[6]

Reichhelf’s evolutionary view of history is based on three principles:

• Diversity emerges from one.
• Life is constant change. There are no best or only correct conditions.
• The future is open.

Reichholf advocates “survivalable imbalances”. Balance means standstill, only tension creates activity.

Reichholf has also commented on the field of tension between natural sciences and faith. For Reichholf, the main function of faith is the reduction of real complexity in order to make it understandable. Religion fulfills a concrete purpose in social groups; It contributes to order within the group and is therefore to be understood as an evolutionary advantage.

In October 2010, Reichholf threw opponents of the large -scale construction project Stuttgart 21, which, due to nature conservation reasons, opposed the fall of plane trees, an instrumentalization of nature conservation. Since the plane trees and the Juchten beetles living on them are non -home species, they would have to be combated rather than protected for reasons of nature conservation. ^[17]

Reichholf has spoken to hunting in various ways, he criticizes that ongoing hunting leads to increased shyness and night activity in wild animals. In view of the game damage in agriculture, Reichholf considers the hunt for wild boars to regulate the population as necessary and recommends the increased use of silencers and night vision devices as well as short but intensive driven as well as for the wild malfunction and at the same time effective methods for reducing the wild density. ^[18]

Reichholfs sometimes referred to as “astonishing all -round” publications ^{[19] [20]} have triggered public controversy. According to Bernd Lötsch, Reichholf sees himself as a “yeast in the sourdough” and “always the opposite opinion”. ^[21]

The philosopher Anna Leuschner described Reichholf as a climate skeptic, who “without adoption plays the uncertainties in climate research against the credibility of forecasts”. ^[22] The internet portal Climatic cotor False statements accused him after he had claimed the world in a guest comment in the daily newspaper that the global warming – in contradiction to the statements of the climate models that had been warned – has been standing standstill for a decades and a half. In fact, this standstill never existed, and the three previous years 2014, 2015 and 2016 have been the warmest since the measurements began. ^{[23] [24]} Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research accused him of working in his publications with “false and misleading climate turks” and thus violating the rules of “good scientific practice”. He ignores the reconstructions of climate development documented in the IPCC report in the last millennium and the current research in biology on the effects of global warming on animal and plant species. ^{[25] [26] [27]} Reichholf called Rahmstorf’s attacks unjustified and assumed a dubious approach for political motives. ^[ten] The thesis that warming is a shame of the wealth of species is completely abstruse in view of the findings in the ice ages.

On the occasion of the publication of the book Stable imbalances and an accompanying essay ^[28] Wolfgang Cramer, Professor of Global Ecology at the University of Potsdam and later research director at the CNRS, accused Reichholf that he justifies anthropogenic undesirable developments as a biological need. Reichholf represent raids and wars as “human imbalances” and thus give them an unjustified place in the ecosystem. ^[29]

In November 2016, Reichholf set up the thesis that the bird flu H5N8, which was rampant at this time under wild and fuses, did not, as assumed by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), was introduced via wild ducks from Asia. It is more likely that the virus will come from intensive animal husbandry and be spread through their feed and products; The wild birds found deadly have died from botulism and creeping lead poisoning by shotgings. ^[30] Reichhelf’s theses were taken over by many animal and environmental protection associations, e.g. B. from NABU ^{[thirty first] [32]} and providing ^[33] . The FLI In March 2017, there was “no doubt about the fact that the virus came to Europe with migratory birds from Asia”. ^[34]

• Waldnatur: A threatened habitat for animals and plants . Oekom, Munich 2022, ISBN 978-3-96238-349-7.
• with Johann Brandstetter (illustrations): City, country, fox: The life of domestic mammals . Structure, Berlin 2022, ISBN 978-3-351-03856-4.
• River nature: a fascinating habitat in change . Oekom, Munich 2021, ISBN 978-3-96238-285-8.
• with Johann Brandstetter (illustrations): Rainforests. Their threatened beauty and how we can save them . Structure, Berlin 2021, ISBN 978-3-351-03825-0.
• The dog and his person: how the dog domesticated itself and us . Hanser, Munich 2020
• The life of the squirrels . Hanser, Munich 2019, ISBN 978-3-446-26407-6.
• Afterword to Darwin’s work The origin of the species. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2018, ISBN 978-3-608-96115-7.
• Butterflies: Why they disappear and what that means for us . Hanser, Munich 2018, ISBN 978-3-446-26033-7.
• Pets: Our nearby and yet strange companions (natural customers) . Matthes & Seitz, Berlin 2017, ISBN 978-3-957-57462-6.
• Waldjournal. Verlag Kessel, Remagen-Oberwinter 2017, ISBN 978-3-945-94125-6.
• Symbioses. The amazing coexistence in nature . Illustrations by Johann Brandstetter. Matthes & Seitz, Berlin 2017, ISBN 978-3-95757-366-7.
• Evolution. A short story of people and nature. Hanser, Munich 2016, ISBN 978-3-446-24521-1.
• My life for nature: in the footsteps of evolution and ecology . Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2015, ISBN 978-3-10-062947-0.
• Ornis: The life of the birds . C. H. Beck, Munich 2014, ISBN 978-3-406-66048-1.
• With Jürg Parli (Illustrator): Came to the dog (= Vontobel series series ). Vontobel Foundation, Zurich 2014, DNB 1049226976 , OCLC 878907684 .
• Butterflies. Certainly determine in three steps. BLV, Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-8354-0944-6.
• Enthusiastic about the lively. Facets of change in nature . Gray Edition, Zug 2013, ISBN 978-3-906336-62-6.
• Unicorn, phoenix, dragon: where our mythical animals come from . Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2012, ISBN 978-3-10-062948-7.
• The riddle of the green rose and other surprises from the life of the plants and animals . Oekom, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-86581-194-3.
• Natural history (s): About fit Blesshühner, beaver with a migration background and why we want the environment in balance . Knaus, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-8135-0378-4. ^[35]
• The origin of beauty: Darwin’s largest dilemma . C. H. Beck, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-406-58713-9.
• Nature conservation: crisis and future . Suhrkamp, ​​Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-518-26031-9.
• Raven -black intelligence: What we can learn from crows . Herbig, Munich 2009, ISBN 3-7766-2600-3.
• Why people became sedentary: the greatest riddle of our history . Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2008, ISBN 978-3-10-062943-2.
• End of biodiversity? Hanging and annihilation of biodiversity. Published by Klaus Wiegand. Fischer Paperback, Frankfurt am Main 2008, ISBN 978-3-596-17665-6.
• Stable imbalances: the ecology of the future . Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 2008, ISBN 978-3-518-26005-0.
• The bear is going: a critical management report on the chances of survival of our big animals . Herbig, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-7766-2510-3.
• A short history of the last millennium. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2007, ISBN 978-3-10-062942-5.
• Stadtnatur: A new home for animals and plants – a nature guide through the city . Oekom, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-86581-042-7.
• Evolution: know what’s true. Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 2007, ISBN 3-4510-5779-4.
• The future of the species: new ecological surprises. C. H. Beck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-406-52786-8.
• The dance for the golden calf: ecocolonialism in Europe. Wagenbach, Berlin 2004, ISBN 3-8031-3615-6.
• The wrong prophets: our desire for disasters . Wagenbach, Berlin 2002, ISBN 3-8031-2442-5.
• Why we want to win: the sporting ambition as a driving force in human evolution . DTV, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-423-24271-X.
• The Blue Planet: Introduction to Ecology . DTV, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-423-33033-3.
• The riddle of incarnation: the origin of man in the interplay of nature. DTV, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-423-30341-7.
• Comeback of the beaver: ecological surprises . C. H. Beck, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-406-37328-3.
• The creative impulse: a new view of evolution . DVA, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-421-02763-3.
• Successful principle of locomotion: the evolution of running, flying, swimming and trench. DTV, 1992, ISsb3:33-303 H03-4.
• The tropical rainforest: the ecobiology of the most biodiversity of the earth. DTV, 1990, ISBN 3-423-11262-X.
• Studies on the biology of water butterfly Nymphula Nymphaeata L. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) . doi: 10.1002/iroh.19700550502 In: International revue of all hydrobiology. Number 5, born 55, 1970, ISSN  1522-2632 , S. 687–728, DNB 482641959 (Dissertation Ludwig Maximilians University Munich 1969).

Contributions [ Edit | Edit the source text ]

Zazen or the constant willingness to start a new start – now! In: OM C. Parkin, Muhō Nölke, Andrew Cohen, Josef Reichholf, Doris Zölls etc. Die and become: the power of the new beginning Advaita Media 2010

• Josef H. Reichholf. The bird whisperer. Documentary, Germany, 2018, 42:54 min., Book and Director: Tilman Urbach, Production: Bayerischer Rundfunk, first sending: June 5, 2018 at BR television, Summary From ARD, online-Video Called up to June 5, 2019.
• Josef Reichholf: zoologist, ecologist and author. Conversation, Germany, 2015, 44:03 min., Moderation: Prisca Straub, Production: Bayerischer Rundfunk, series: alpha-Forum , First shipment: July 8, 2015 at BR-Alpha, Change and online video From ARD, Text.
• Jägerlatin and wild biology. A hunting ban in Basel: Practically possible and scientifically proven. Why it can work. Proven the theory understandably. Lecture with DiaSchau at the University of Basel, Switzerland, October 15, 2013, 36:50 min., Production: www.jagtreguliernicht.ch, internet publication: November 20, 2013, online-Video.
• Drugs of progress. Why people became sedentary. Conversation, Germany, 2009, 44:55 min., Moderation: Alexander Kluge, Production: DCTP.TV, series: News & Stories , First shipment: February 8, 2009 at DCTP.TV, online-Video by DCTP.TV.
• Peter Voß asks Josef Reichholf. Does nature strike back, Mr. Reichholf? Conversation, Germany, 2008, 44:07 min., Director: Thomas Münch, Production: SWR, first show: April 21, 2008 at SWR, series: Peter Voß asks , Summary From 3sat, online-Video from 3sat.

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