The role of Franz Herbich (1791-1865) in the organization of research on the natural history of Galicia (Austro-Hungarian Empire)

From 1825 until his death, the Austrian botanist Franz Herbich lived in Galicia (a province of the Austrian Empire), where he established an effective network of associates. Towards the end of his life, he planned to hand over this network to the future Galician Physiographical Society, which was to continue his research. In 1865, thanks to his initiative, the Academic Society of Krakow established a Physiographical Commission to conduct natural history studies, which were from 1866 funded by the Galician Parliament.