One of the measures included in VAUDE’s biodiversity concept at our Obereisenbach location in southern Germany is the restoration and renaturalization of a stream that flows through the grounds. This will facilitate maintaining the flow of the water and creating a habitat for a specific range of species along 175 meters of the riparian buffer next to the stream.
The alder groves on the embankment along the stream were thinned, hedges on the side of the corridor were planted to act as a shield and willow trees were coppiced (cut off just above ground level to stimulate thick new growth) on the slope and next to the stream. In addition, rapidly spreading neophytes (Indian Balsam) are regularly removed, which would otherwise crowd out other native plants.
VAUDE also supports various projects as a part of its commitment to biodiversity. One example – VAUDE, as a partner of the WWF Germany, supports a WWF project in the Caucasus, one of the world's most valuable biodiversity hot spots.
The "European Outdoor Conservation Association" (EOCA) is the conservation organization of the European outdoor industry. In the past eight years it has bestowed over 1.5 million euros in awards for conservation projects.
Several conservation projects nominated by VAUDE have been honored by the EOCA, receiving 100% of the prize money for their ventures:
Jan Lorch (Head of Sales & CSR) is on the board of the “European Outdoor Conservation Association” (EOCA).
Impressive biodiversity
The Jablanica-Shebenik Mountains are among the most outstanding natural treasures in the Green Belt. This ravishing mountain landscape with relatively well-preserved beech forests and extensive alpine mats offers a home not only to endemic plants such as the Balkan Viola Gracilis, Dianthus Jablanicensis and Albanian Lily but also to brown bear, wolf and the Balkan lynx which is now in great danger of extinction.
Goal: the establishment of a cross-border National Park
EuroNatur has been working for years on long-term conservation of the large, connected areas of forest in the Jablanica-Shebenik Mountains. Together with local nature conservation organizations and with the support of national authorities in Macedonia and Albania, EuroNatur has set itself the goal of establishing a large-scale cross-border conservation area. Apart from the lynx, wolves, bears and the entire ecosystem, of which the predators form the apex, stand to gain from the protection measures.
Source: Euronatur: http://www.euronatur.org/Jablanica-Shebenik.589.0.html
Current status of the hiking path project: http://www.outdoorconservation.eu/project-detail.cfm?projectid=12
The initiative for Spanish bears is a wonderful example of how important it is even in seemingly hopeless situations to spare no effort in working for a better future. Alongside the fragmentation of their habitat it was above all illegal bear hunting that had very nearly made the large predators extinct in the Cantabrian Mountains.
Since the mid 1990s EuroNatur and project partner Fapas have been campaigning to secure this region in North Spain as a habitat for brown bears. Thanks to this unflagging work things are gradually but steadily looking up for the brown bears in the Cantabrian Mountains. Within ten years their numbers have almost doubled.
Source: Euronatur: http://www.euronatur.org/Bears-in-Spain.1444.0.html
Current status of the brown bear project: http://www.outdoorconservation.eu/project-detail.cfm?projectid=20
Some of the most ecologically significant agricultural natural areas in Europe are in Romania's Transylvania. They ensure high agricultural productivity and a lot of jobs.
Nevertheless, innovative approaches are needed so that these landscapes and communities can cope with the changes of the 21st century. Fundatia ADEPT performs integrative programs in which economic and social aspects are linked to the protection of biodiversity. An important part of each project is the development of knowledge and awareness of these relationships in the local community.
http://www.fundatia-adept.org/?content=news_detail&news_id=76&img_cache=1&img_cache=1&img_cache=1
http://fundatia-adept.org/?content=news_detail&news_id=95
