CEI 2017: Salem/USA: Following Nature’s Example (1)

This year’s Austrian project is carried out by 36 students of the Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Judenburg attending the biology course BEE (Biological and Environmental Experiences in English). Out of this group 11 students will join the CEI-conference in Oregon.

In relation to the sustainable “Styrian Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change 2050” released in September 2015, we continued the long term cooperation with the environmental department of the municipality of Judenburg also in this year  to implement the strategy in three fields: education and global responsibility, household of water and water-management, conservation and biodiversity.

„Sustainable Measurements Supporting Ecosystems in the Alpine Region: Dealing with Neobiota”

Project Group Austria 1

 

Established ecosystems live on rich biodiversity of organisms providing these systems with stability and resilience. However, three percent of Europian neobiota are invasive species, bringing harm to the area where they live in and reproduce.  

In addition to that we wanted to find out: Why are these organisms so successful? What do they cause? Can we stop them becoming established here? Can we do something when they are already established?

Therefore we supported the preparation of factsheets on local invasive plants for the citizens of Judenburg. The local inhabitants will soon get access to project results and information on the municipality’s homepage and local pharmacies will hand out folders containing project information.

Hands on weeding of invasive species with local asylum seekers will help decrease these species and enhance stability of local ecosystems. In summer 2017 the project group will monitor the hand-weeded areas and data will be evaluated. 

We then supported work on the second module of information boards about typical and rare alpine flora and its needs and again erected them in the alpine region in order to increase people´s consciousness.

CEI 2017: Salem/USA: Following Nature’s Example (2)

„Sustainable Measurements Supporting Ecosystems in the Alpine Region: Mountain Waters and Human Influence” 

Project Group Austria 2

In 2017 we continued the analysis of two small lakes in the alpine area without human influence and two other lakes with swimming area and regeneration area for wildlife. Then we again compared the results of the investigation about these aquatic ecosystems to find out about this year’s changes due to a long cold period of minus 20 degrees centigrade for all four and human influence on two lakes. This project module comprised excursions and activities in a dinghy, taking samples and laboratory work using reversing microscope.

And we wanted to find out for the rivers and lakes: How do different ways of using mountain water influence physically and chemical factors? Which saprobies, plankton and bacteria do we find? 

Therefore, we accomplished ecological projects, some of them together with primary students of the 3^rd form at our school pond and the Oberweg creek. We continued with chemical, physical and biological studies of the river Pöls and the four lakes. The results are presented to the public as part of a special art project called “Humility” with the aim to increase appreciation for an intact nature.

CEI 2017: Salem/USA: Following Nature’s Example (3)

„Sustainable Measurements Supporting Ecosystems in the Alpine Region: Sustainable Wood Management”

Project Group Austria 3 

We  started an ecological geocaching project on sustainable Styrian wood management in cooperation with a local paper mill, the Technical University of Graz and Pro Wood Styria. We wanted to answer the following questions: Which adaptions to climate change do we find in forestry plant growth? Which type of wood is used for paper production? How does pulp and paper production use product cycles? What is the paper mill’s impact on the environment?

The visit of LIECO, a company that grows different species of trees adapted to European altitudinal belts showed, that climate change is a factor we have to deal with today. Water analysis activities were carried out at the river Pöls, that is providing the paper mill with water and work in the laboratory of the Technical University of Graz was done.
In autumn we will present our results in a geocache around the valley the paper mill is located.

An interview with Dr. Vogel, CEO ZPA Pöls, showed that the company also does research in cooperation with the technical University of Graz to enhance the use of substances being produced in pulp and paper production like the organic polymer lignin and the by-product tall oil.

The interview with the mayor of Pöls showed that there are sustainable efforts to deal with climate change.