German ecologist selected in "One Thousand People Plan"

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Holger Perner, a fifty year old German ecologist, was recently listed in the “One Thousand People Plan” in Sichuan province, Huaxi Metropolitan reported.

Perner received his PhD from Hamburg University in Germany in 1996. He took part in many major study projects as chief scientist at the German Academy of Sciences.

Perner first came to Sichuan in 1997 when he was 37. A girl named Yu Wenqing, came to the airport to pick him up. Perner and Yu Wenqing got married half a year after they met. They have two daughters.

In 2001, he gave up his work at the German Academy of Sciences and went to work in rural areas with his wife.

He aimed to cultivate economic plants such as blueberries and blackberries to increase the locals’ income.

Perner does not speak much, but his words are precise and useful for local farmers after being translated from German to Chinese by his wife.

As an ecologist, he is unwilling to leave Sichuan because of the natural resources. “Sichuan is a paradise for ecologists. For example, Kiwi fruit originated in Sichuan rather than New Zealand,” he said.

While serving as a senior consultant at HuangLong National Scenic Spot, his focus changed from ecology protection to poverty alleviation.

Before Perner arrived, there were no blueberries in Pansong county. Perner found that blueberries were perfect for highlands. He noted that local farmers relied on natural resources for a living. If he wanted to protect the ecological environment, he had to help famers change their way of doing business.

Previously, locals got 700 yuan per acre if they planted potatoes and maize. They can receive up to 10,000 yuan per acre if they plant blueberries.

Perner has a research team of ten people. As the core of the team, Perner thinks about R&D day and night.

Now, he plans to promote five economic plants, including blueberries, cranberries and blackberries, within three years in alpine regions. The plants are expected to attract 30 million yuan of revenue per year.

A total of 154 individuals and 19 innovation teams have been granted financial support of 141 million yuan from the Sichuan provincial government.

Each person selected to be in the One Thousand People Plan is entitled to grants ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 yuan from the provincial government. The Municipal and county level governments give relevant support in terms of children’s education and medical insurance.

Perner is not only a scientist but also a loving father. Stephanie, his 12-year-old daughter, dreamed of becoming a food commentator. She thinks her father is most handsome when he cooks. He cooks chocolate pudding and Spanish seafood for Christmas Eve.

They mainly speak German and English at home because Perner is still not able to speak Chinese. Unlike her husband, Yu Wenqing is very talented at languages. Already fluent in Chinese, English, and Japanese, Yu became proficient in German after her marriage.

For Perner, Yu is not only his wife but also his soul-mate and working partner.

Love changed Perner’s life. ”If I had not met my wife here, I might have returned to Germany. I enjoy living in Sichuan with my family. I will live here for the rest of my life.”

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