Challenge+20-20+Borna+2012

Environmental Protection in our Region -SOUTH OF LEIPZIG_ very close to BORNA - our home Since 1994 engaged people who have felt responsible for **environmental protection have been working on their ideas to conserve our environment.** Considering the former coal mines **environmental groups and organizations** understood their tasks. The environmental research centre Leipzig- Halle shows strategies of the lasting use of our region: for commercial purposes or leisure activities and recreation. **Our project group Challenge 20/20** did some research on their work. We are especially interested in keeping biotopes for indigenous animals and plants. We regularly checked our local newspaper “Leipziger Volkszeitung” for interesting articles, studied leaflets, brochures etc. of environmental groups and authorities to find their beginnings and results of their work. We can only give some examples to stress the meaning of their work:

New biotopes for animals were created in Lobstaedt near Borna: **Birds** which can be found there belonging to the endangered animals (see Red List) can live there peacefully: Reedbunting (Rohrammer), tits (Meise), bittern (Zwergrohrdommel), thrushes (Drosselrohrsänger), several kinds of the robin: Schwarzkehlchen, Braunkehlchen, Tüpfelralle, Wasserralle, Schafstelze, a special kkind of the swallow: Uferschwalben, Grauammer, sparrowhawk warbler (Sperbergrasmuecke) etc. The **Frog** population is very famous as well. There are several kinds of frogs, toads and lizards. Here are some examples: garlic toad (Knoblauchkröte), sea frog (Seefrosch), moor frog (Moorfrosch), swap toad (Wechselkröte) **Butterflies** an endangered kind is the swallow-tail (Schwalbenschwanz) **Plants** there are several kinds of orchids, herbs e.g. hawkweeds (Habichtkraut), thistles e.g. the gold thistle, clover (Wundklee, Tausend-güldenkraut or Ackerfilzkraut), and ferns (Mondrauten- Farn) **Trees** you can find oaks, poplars, birch pioneer woods etc.  **Animals** as the fox find a new place to live and environmentalist can watch them and enjoy their existence To follow the goals and to achieve results the public must be informed to support these plans and projects. That means visitors are guides through these protected areas to understand the meaning of the work of the environmental groups and their actions and activities. Visitors should experience the uniqueness of the former coal mining areas and their recultivation. Everyone can take responsibilities and can do something for conserving our environment. Everyone can work on a voluntary basis and finally identify with this unique landscape. We as a part of the younger generation play an important role and can help to do something. There is always something. According to our project it is necessary to publish the importance of this topic and to discuss the aspects of the problems with interested people. Furthermore this is can be seen as the foundation for raising public awareness for environmental protection and for establishing political intentions to realize these goals.

**Things to do :** Take your responsibilities and let´s get started: “Nesting boxes in towns and surroundings” are one possibility to protect several species, i.e. indigenous kinds of birds e.g. blue tits and great tits. Everyone can build a nesting box and put it up at a tree, even in your own garden. We got informed about this project by the Ecological Station Borna-Birkenhain. Email: __oekostation-birkenhain@gmx.de__.

Another project realized by the Ecological Station Borna-Birkenhain is the protection of hedgehogs. We took part in an excursion in November 2011 and got an idea about what people do for our indigenous animals such as hedgehogs, owls, tawny owls, little owls, eagle owls etc. (see powerpoint presentation)

The **IUCN Red List of Threatened Species** (also known as the **IUCN Red List** or **Red Data List**), founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global [|conservation] status of [|biological species]. The [|International Union for Conservation of Nature] (IUCN) is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species. A series of [|Regional Red Lists] are produced by countries or organizations, which assess the risk of extinction to species within a political management unit. The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the [|extinction] risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. The aim is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species extinction.

There are red lists in Germany and for its federal states as well. **Let´s have a look at the red list of Saxony´s endangered animals:** **Source: www.umwelt.sachsen.de/umweltdownload/natur/kategorieRote_Liste_** Examples for endangered and vulnerable to extinction **amphibians and reptiles**: garlic toad (Knoblauchkröte), sea frog (Seefrosch), moor frog (Moorfrosch), swap toad (Wechselkröte), Zauneidechse, tree frog (Laubfrosch) Examples for endangered and vulnerable to extinction **birds:**

Black and white stork (Schwarzstorch, Weißstorch) Reedbunting (Rohrammer), tits (Meise), bittern (Zwergrohrdommel), thrushes (Drosselrohrsänger), several kinds of the robin: Schwarzkehlchen, Braunkehlchen, Tüpfelralle, Wasserralle, Schafstelze, a special kkind of the swallow: Uferschwalben, Grauammer, sparrowhawk warbler (Sperbergrasmuecke) etc.