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.