{"id":2650,"date":"2019-02-21T10:45:16","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T10:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalchangeecology.com\/?p=2650"},"modified":"2019-02-25T18:17:31","modified_gmt":"2019-02-25T18:17:31","slug":"how-students-take-the-first-step-for-biodiversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalchangeecology.com\/2019\/02\/21\/how-students-take-the-first-step-for-biodiversity\/","title":{"rendered":"How students take the first step for biodiversity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201eIt is not your fault, the world is at it is. It would just be your fault if she stayed like this!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

At the top of their voices, the \u201cSummers\u201d are singing the lyrics of the famous song of the German band \u201cDie \u00c4rzte\u201din the small, tiled kitchen. Some of them have taken off their shirts and dance around, it is warm and stuffy. \u201cYour fault\u201d is probably the perfect song for this party: the students are celebrating the success of the referendum for biodiversity protection in Bavaria. They not longer wanted to be responsible for no changes in the world. For weeks, they have distributed leaflets, stood in the freezing weather of February to speak with pedestrians, dressed in bee costumes, to raise awareness for the referendum on biodiversity<\/a>. Still wearing their orange safety vests with the imprint \u201cSave the bees\u201d on the back, they dance through the apartment, where the party takes place.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t believe anyone who tells you, you can\u2019t change a thing.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Those who say that are just scared of changes.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, 13 February 2019, the referendum ended and it was clear: The topic enters the next round, the needed 1 million signatures, equivalent to 10% of the population, \u00a0have been collected in Bavaria. To be more precise, the needed limit has been exceeded. In total, more than 1.7 million people have signed the petition in the city halls across Bavaria, indicating that they want more biodiversity protection and conservation. \u201cThe referendum in Bavaria is a clear sign, also for the current negotiations in the EU agricultural policy\u201d, Stefanie Propp says, second chairwoman of the \u201cSummers\u201d. In Bayreuth, she was as well speaker for the referendum on biodiversity. \u201cI was sure, we would reach one million signatures. But more than 18 percent were achieved, that makes me even more happy and shows our dedication is worth it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the hot summer sun, the “Summer” were creating\u00a0grassland and low-nutrient habitats<\/span> in the Wilhelminenaue in Bayreuth. Picture: Summer in der City e.V.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Bayreuth, the \u201cSummers\u201d have definitely helped the referendum to succeed. But who is behind that name? In 2018, various students of the University of Bayreuth founded the club \u201cSummer in der City\u201d<\/a> to put a spotlight on biodiversity. \u201cWe were nine students and wanted to change something\u201d, Thomas Pickel says. The 27-year-old student of geoecology is one of the founders of Summer in der City. Their name is not a hidden sign for a club of Joe Cocker fans but refers to the word “summen” which means “buzz” in German – very accurate for a club trying to save insects. \u201cCurrently, we have 15 members who are very active, meaning they are contributing more than once a week. Furthermore, there are 30 to 40 more people who are also helping often.\u201d So far, the club is completely funded by donations and the membership fees. It costs 10 Euro per year \u00a0to become a \u201cSummer\u201d<\/a>. \u201cIt is wonderful to see that so many people want to contribute to nature conservation\u201d, Leonie Gass, member of the Summers, says. \u201cIt gives me new power and new confidence that something is going to change!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially, they could share their expertise with others in smaller projects. So, they made sure that the meadows at the campus of University of Bayreuth are only mowed twice a year. This happened in cooperation with Green Campus and Christian Laforsch, professor for animal ecology at the University of Bayreuth. This way, more plants are blooming and thus offering food and habitat for insects.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Building insect hotels and explaining others how to – the members of “Summer in der City” are managing all that. Picture: Marie L\u00f6we<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Their work pays off: Insect hotels can soon be found all over Bayreuth. Picture: Summer in der City e.V.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the University of Bayreuth mixed seeds into the ploughed soil and created space for insects that way, the students built insect hotels. Soon, they will install them on campus. At \u201cWilhelminenaue\u201d, the Summers have created grassland and low-nutrient habitats on the area of the initiative \u201cEssbare Stadt Bayreuth\u201d (German for eatable city). Insects will also find new space to live on there. \u201cThis was our main project last year\u201d, Stefanie Propp says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to get active. We know the problem, but we don\u2019t just want to complain about it but actually change something\u201d, Thomas Pickel says.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The students no longer wanted to watch and see no changes. On different occasions, they started awareness campaigns last summer. Picture: Summer in der City e.V.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cBecause everyone who doesn\u2019t want to change the world, is signing her death sentence!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The fact that most members of the Summers are students is both, a curse and a saviour at the same time. A saviour, because they have a lot of expertise in that topic due to their study programmes. A curse, because students often move away, causing frequent changes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, the Summers wish to engage more people from outside the university.\u00a0<\/span>To make this happen, they want to work more in public areas. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor this year, we have planned two big projects\u201d, Thomas Pickel says. First, there is a nature garden project which provides the Summers the chance to create a natural garden on an area of 10.000 m2 in Wilhelminenaue. A crowdfunding campaign is supposed to help to construct the garden<\/a>. \u201cIn the nature garden, amongst others, there will be a wild rose garden and a meadow orchard. They will as well attract insects and create new habitats for other animals such as hedgehogs and lizards.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, there is the project \u201cFranken Flowers\u201d. It is planned for 2019: The Summers cooperate with regional market gardens to sell domestic indigenous flowers and shrubs. This is important as some insects rely on special plants. \u201cWe hope, the natural garden will encourage people to create such a garden at their homes as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Work hard, play hard: The “Summers” spent a lot of physical power for their projects during past summer. Picture: Summer in der City e.V.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sleepless nights, sore arms and legs from digging in soil, working hard to awaken other people – all that is often the daily life of the Summers. But is seems to be rewarded: The fact that nearly twice as much people as needed signed the referendum, bolsters them. Some movement is happening. It just needs someone to take the first step. Just like the Summers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201eIt is not your fault, the world is at it is. It would just be your fault if she stayed like this!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201eIt is not your fault, the world is at it is. It would just be your fault if she stayed like this!\u201d At the top of their voices, the \u201cSummers\u201d are singing the lyrics of the famous song of the German band \u201cDie \u00c4rzte\u201din the small, tiled kitchen. Some of them have taken off their […]<\/p>\n

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