„Wetland Tourism: A Great Experience“

Press Release from January 27th, 2012

Radolfzell.   The eastern Adriatic coast has more to offer than just beaches and a steel-blue sea: underground caves, huge lakes and karst moors - flooded and dried out by subterranean watercourses. At the World Wetlands Day on February 2nd, the Pan-European nature conservation organisation EuroNatur wants to draw the attention to the importance of wetlands on the Balkan Peninsula. This year’s campaign day, organised once per year by the Ramsar Convention, will be dedicated to the theme “Wetland Tourism: A Great Experience”. “A great abundance of wetlands stretches along the eastern Adriatic coast from Slovenia via Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro to Albania. The biodiversity of this natural paradise is, however, severely endangered by drainage, buildings and bird hunting,” says EuroNatur executive director Gabriel Schwaderer.

In addition, the wetlands at the eastern Adriatic coast offer not just ecological but also great economic benefits. In contrary to the beaches, nature travel destinations like the caves of Škocjanin in Slovenia, which have been declared as UNESCO world natural heritage, or the great Balkan lakes Prespa and Ohrid in the three-border region between Macedonia, Albania and Greece, have the potential to attract visitors all over the whole year thus providing a constant stream of income. Crane watching on and around the Baltic island Ruegen, for example, extends the summer season from September to October. EuroNatur promotes to introduce similar projects in southeast Europe - as the economical potential of sustainable nature along the Adriatic coast has not been fully used yet. Even though countries like Croatia and Montenegro advertise with slogans like “The Mediterranean - as it once was” or “wild beauty”, there is still not enough information for tourists to help them discover the many hidden treasures. 

EuroNatur’s travel guides “Eastern Adriatic Coast” and “Prespa-Ohrid Region” are first, important steps ‘on the journey’ to make this part of Europe with its magnificent natural and cultural heritage more popular and prevent it from destruction. “The countries along the eastern Adriatic coast want to have a longer tourist season. We help them to get there. By doing so, we create solid alternative solutions which hold long-term economical prospects without damaging the nature or shooting birds,” says EuroNatur project leader Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby. 


More information about:

• World Wetlands Day 

• about EuroNatur projects for the protection of the Prespa-Ohrid region
  
  

For questions please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Tel.: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10
Fax: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Contact: Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby
Press contact: Katharina Grund

Solana Ulcinj to be auctioned on January 16

Press release from 10 December 2012

Radolfzell.  Since December 16, countdown is running for the most important resting area for migratory birds on the Eastern Adriatic coast. On January 16, the Solana Ulcinj shall be sold for at least 257.8 million euro, which implies the imminent loss of these valuable wetlands.

"Many migratory birds - especially the garganeys, curlew sandpipers and slender-billed curlews - would not survive the tremendously long flight of up to 5.000 km from Eurasia to Africa without being able to roost in Solana Ulcinj. The risk that this ecological treasure falls victim to greedy businessmen is imminent", says Gabriel Schwaderer, managing director of the European Nature Heritage Fund EuroNatur. In the course of privatization of the formerly public enterprise in 2005, the company Eurofond acquired 75% of the Solana Ulcinj business for just 800.000 euro from the State of Montenegro, including the Solana area of totally 14.5 million m², a size of approximately 1.450 football grounds. Since then, the fate of the Solana Ulcinj is in the hands of Veselin Barović who controls Eurofond.

The fact that instead of winning salt, selling the ground now is a big deal, results from the scandalous amendments to the Spatial Plan of Montenegro (2005-2020) which were passed in 2007. The draft of the Spatial Plan was supported by the German Government, and experts from the GIZ (German society for international cooperation) participated in the preparation of the document. The aim of the original version of the Spatial Plan was to open up new economic perspectives to Montenegro through sustainable development. However, the amended version submitted to the Parliament for voting, clearly diverged from the one that underwent the environmental impact assessment and was presented to a public hearing shortly before:

First, the designation of new protected areas was deleted; unfortunately, this also applies for the Solana Ulcinj. Secondly, the Solana was earmarked for tourist land use, including - thirdly - the construction of new accommodation facilities. And so the important wetlands "Solana Ulcinj " were turned into a potential building site, exceeding the financial speculation value many times over.

"Being a candidate country for EU-membership, Montenegro cannot afford to declare a future Natura 2000 site a building terrain. There are still abandoned hotels from Yugoslavian times. Instead of more hotel accommodations, Montenegro needs attractive and effectively protected nature reserves", says EuroNatur project leader Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby.
EuroNatur supports the petition of the Montenegrin nature conservation and environment protection associations and strongly requests Prime Minister Igor Lukšić to withdraw the amendments from the Spatial Plan. The Solana Ulcinj must become a nature reserve, in order to be preserved as a tourist attraction and as a vital roosting place for migratory birds.

Background information:

• Solana Ulcinj is also known under the company name Solana "Bajo Sekulić" or "Ulcinj Salina".

• Since 2003, EuroNatur supports the development of the Solana Ulcinj into a wildlife bird sanctuary and target area for nature tourism along the Adriatic flyway.

• Link to the petitions of the NGOs 

• Link to the Spatial Plan of Montenegro (2005 – 2020)

Further enquiries: 

EuroNatur

Konstanzer Str. 22

78315 Radolfzell

Phone: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10

Fax: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22

E-Mail: info@euronatur.org

Internet: www.euronatur.org

contact: Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby

 press contact: Katharina Grund

EuroNatur: The government of Macedonia must stop this project!

Press release from 14 December 2011

Radolfzell.   In middle of the second oldest and largest national park of Macedonia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to finance the construction of a large hydroelectric dam for power generation. The so called "Boskov Most" project means a serious threat to the Mavrovo National Park. Hence, the international nature heritage fund EuroNatur requests from the EBRD to withdraw the loan promise made to the Macedonian power supplier ELEM for the construction of the hydro power plant in the national park. 

„Large infrastructure projects, such as ‘Boskov Most’ reduces the national park ad absurdum. On the one hand, Macedonia seeks membership in the EU; on the other hand however, they show utter contempt of the European conservation law by approving such projects. The impacts caused by the hydro power plant project are by no means consistent with the fact that this protected area is part of Emerald-Network and also a future part of the Natura 2000 network", says EuroNatur director Gabriel Schwaderer. Backed by six Macedonian NGOs, EuroNatur asks the Macedonian Government to stop this nature-destroying project.

Time is short, as according to ELEM excavation works shall start as soon as April 2012. In November this year, ELEM signed a loan agreement with the EBRD to finance the project, which includes the construction of a dam power plant of up to 70 megawatt in the southern part of the 73.100-hectare national park. The bank has declared to grant a 65m-euro loan to finance the "Boskov Most" project. The dam will be 33 m high.

"EuroNatur has information at hand according to which the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for the construction of the dam power plant is technically assailable. We do not understand why the EBRD is satisfied with such highly questionable results", says Gabriel Schwaderer. Beside the fact that the dam shall be built in the middle of a nature reserve, there are no reliable studies about the impact of the project on the last known stable population of the Balkan lynx, an endangered subspecies of the Eurasian lynx. The impairment of the population of Balkan lynxes in the Mavrovo National Park could entail the extinction of this subspecies. In EuroNatur's view, until now neither the Macedonian Government nor the EBRD have taken sufficient account of the arguments presented by the coalition of six Macedonian NGOs, which are fighting for the conservation of the Mavrovo National Park.

In any case, the regional population will not profit from the project. In contrast to "Boskov Most", alternative ways of development such as the marketing of local products and the promotion of sustainable nature tourism would create new jobs and add to the yet positive image of the Mavrovo National Park.


For further information please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Phone: 07732 - 92 72 10
Fax: 07732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Press contact: Katharina Grund
Contact: Gabriel Schwaderer

Conference for the protection of the European natural heritage along the former Iron Curtain in Ulcinj (Montenegro)

Press release from 22. November 2011


Radolfzell/ Ulcinj. From 16th to 19th November 2011, more than 50 representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations met in order to discuss about the future of the European Green Belt in South-Eastern Europe. The 3rd European Green Belt Regional Meeting for the Balkans was organized by EuroNatur with financial support by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and by the German Federal Environment Agency.

“One of the main tasks of nature conservation in Europe is to safeguard the natural treasures along the Green Belt by proclaiming national and nature parks. We therefore call upon all governments of the countries along the Balkan Green Belt to take action and to protect these important elements of the European natural heritage. Large devastating infrastructure projects which endanger and fragment this important European ecological network should not be allowed”, demands Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive Director of EuroNatur Foundation during closing the conference.

Large parts of the Balkan Green Belt are under official protection. Nevertheless, still there are important natural treasures along the former border between East and West which urgently need to be conserved. These areas are important retreats for many endangered animal and plant species.

One of the main problems pointed out by the participants of the conference was the lack of functioning administrations in national parks and strict nature reserves which are necessary to monitor the compliance of the protection targets and the development of nature areas. In addition, the pressure on the valuable natural treasures along the Green Belt caused by large scale infrastructure projects such as dams, ski areas, wind parks and long distance roads constantly increases. 

Main objective of the European Green Belt Initiative is to safeguard and develop the former Iron Curtain which divided Europe for decades as an ecological network, spanning over 12.500 km throughout the continent. Since 2005, two similar meetings took place in Novi Sad, Serbia, and Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.


Background information:

• Read more about EuroNatur’s projects along the Balkan Green Belt
  

• Presentations held at the 3rd European Green Belt Regional Meeting for the Balkans

For further information please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Tel.: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10
Fax: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Ansprechpartner: Gabriel Schwaderer
Pressekontakt: Katharina Grund

Croatian Conservationist awarded with EuroNatur Prize 2011

Press release from 12. October 2011

Radolfzell / Mainau, Lake Constance/ Germany.  This late afternoon, the Croatian conservationist Goran Gugic will receive the EuroNatur Award 2011 on the island of Mainau in Lake Constance. Last year, Dr. Ernst Paul Dörfer had been awarded for his commitment to protect the river Elbe. With the 2011 award, EuroNatur has linked Europe by including the Sava floodplains in Croatia, the largest alluvial wetlands in Europe covering more than 1.200 square kilometres. "Goran Gugic has committed himself to the protection of the Sava floodplains, hence the preservation of a natural and cultural treasure for both Croatia and the whole of Europe", says Christel Schroeder, vice president of the Europe-wide active Nature Heritage Fund EuroNatur, based in Radolfzell. 

Goran Gugic is the classical European citizen. Born into a Croatian family in Germany, he moved to former Yugoslavia in 1992, despite of the war, where he worked for a EuroNatur project in the Sava alluvial wetlands southeast of Zagreb. Since 1998, he is the director of the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje, the core of this unique cultural and natural landscape, and based on his slogan "living with water" he has been managing the park very successfully. He has developed a system of sustainable management that does not harm the environment, but makes sensible use of nature instead. "From increasing flood disasters in Central Europe, we unfortunately had to learn that both river regulation and floodplain destruction entail catastrophic consequences. That's why Goran Gugic's support for the protection of one of the last natural river systems in Europe, must be honoured all the more", says Christel Schroeder.

Once or twice every year, the inflowing water transforms the Lonjsko Polje into a huge lake. Here, an unbroken tradition of pasturing has been preserved since medieval times. The pasture land serves as retention area for the floods of the river Sava, the largest influent of the Danube. These alluvial wetlands host an exceptional richness in species.

But Goran Gugic's commitment goes far beyond the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje; in his job, he always keeps an eye on nature conservation in the rest of Croatia and also abroad. As early as 1993, he gave the crucial impetus to take up the idea of a trans-border biosphere reserve along the rivers Mur-Drava-Danube across the borders of five countries.

Background information:

• Former winners of the EuroNatur Award are, among others, Dr. Ernst Paul Dörfler, Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Prince Charles, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela and Dr. Hans Bibelriether. The EuroNatur Award is not endowed; it honours outstanding achievements in nature conservation.

• Here you can find further information about the EuroNatur prize winner 2011:

Living with water (EuroNatur press release 27.9.2011)

EU-Accession of Croatia: Valuable Cultural Landscapes as "endowment"
(EuroNatur press release 27.6.2011)

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Phone: + 49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10
Mobile: + 49 (0)171-9366698
Fax: + 49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22 
E-Mail: pressestelle@euronatur.org
Press Contact: Katharina Grund

Croatian conservationist awarded with EuroNatur prize 2011

Press release from 27. September 2011

Radolfzell.   „For the European Union, the agreed accession of Croatia implies a valuable gain in unique natural and cultural landscapes that are hard to find anywhere else in Central Europe", says Gabriel Schwaderer, director of the Europe-wide active Nature Heritage Fund EuroNatur. Part of these nature treasures are the wetlands of the river Sava, located southeast of Zagreb, the largest wetlands in Europe with an extension of over 1.200 square kilometres. On October 2011, Goran Gugic, manager of the nature park Lonjsko Polje, will be awarded with this year's EuroNatur prize on the island of Mainau, Lake Constance.

"As manager of the nature park Lonjsko Polje in the Sava wetlands, Goran Gugic has created a model of how cultural landscapes in Europe can be efficiently protected." This is how Gabriel Schwaderer explains this year's choice of the EuroNatur prize winner. "Living with water" is the slogan of the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje, managed by Goran Gugic since 1998, today counting among the best-administered nature parks in Southeast Europe.

Once or twice every year, the inflowing water transforms the Lonjsko Polje, where an unbroken tradition of pasturing has been preserved since medieval times, into a huge lake. The pasture land serves as holding basin for the floods of the river Sava, the largest influent of the Danube. These basins accomodate an exceptional richness in species; the lesser spotted eagle, sea-eagle, spoonbills, black storks and endangered farm animals such as the Posavina horse and the Turopolje pig can still be found here.

An essential part of Goran Gugic's concepts for the protection of this unique natural and cultural landscape is to intensely incorporate local people in the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje. More and more people are returning to their villages along the Sava, as the increasing number of nature tourists attracted to the region provides new income sources.

But Goran Gugic's commitment goes far beyond the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje; he always keeps an eye on both nature conservation in the rest of Croatia and also abroad. As early as 1993, he gave the crucial impetus to take up the idea of a trans-border biosphere reserve along the rivers Mur-Drava-Danube. On March 25, 2011, the environment ministers of Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia signed a joint declaration of intent, fixing the aim of creating the first UNESCO biosphere reserve worldwide that stretches over the borders of five countries.

Background information:

• EuroNatur Award: former prize winners were among others Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Karl Ludwig Schweisfurth, Prince Charles, Mikhail Gorbachev, Luc Hoffmann and Dr. Hans Bibelriether. The EuroNatur Award is not endowed; it honours outstanding achievements in nature conservation. Goran Gugic will be given the EuroNatur 2011 Award on October 12, 2011 on the island of Mainau, Lake Constance.
  

• Goran Gugic grew up in Germany, studied forestry in Munich and moved to Lonjsko Polje in 1992, despite of the war in former Yugoslavia, to work for a EuroNatur project. Since 1998 he manages the nature park. Besides, he is member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas ,chairman of the Croatian UNESCO-Committee „Man and Biosphere“ and member of the standing committee of the Ramsar-Konvention.

• Read more about EuroNatur projects for the protection of the Sava wetlands and about Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. 
  

For further information please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Phone.: + 49 (0) 7732 - 92 72 10
Fax: + 49 (0) 7732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
www.euronatur.org
Press contact: Katharina Grund

New survey raises hope 

Joint press information of EuroNatur and IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) of June 29, 2011

Radolfzell, Hamburg. Compared to last year's census, the number of wolf packs in western Poland, close to the German border, has been rising. This is the result of a wolf monitoring project financed by the IFAW and the nature heritage fund EuroNatur and carried out by the Polish Association for Nature (AfN) WOLF, which presented its current report. 

The scientists identified four new wolf packs and two pairs marking their respective territories. That makes a total of 19 wolf packs with around 95 individuals currently existing in western Poland. One newly discovered pack of seven wolves and the two pairs live on the Polish side of the region Lusatia, in immediate vicinity of the local wolf packs. Two further wolf packs with eight respectively three to four animals were observed around 80 km east of Szczecin. Further monitoring later this summer will reveal whether there will be any offspring in the new or the known packs.

"The results of the wolf monitoring are encouraging and show that the wolf packs are permanently settling in Western Poland", says Robert Kless of IFAW-Germany. As both the wolves from Lusatia and from western Poland belong to the same population, the current development will also benefit the wolf population in East Germany. Yet the wolves are still endangered", continues Kless. "In Poland, a new guideline for wolf management is currently under discussion and will fix a yearly number of animals allowed to be shot, a fatal decision that would not only affect the wolves in Poland, but also in Germany". 

Besides, migration corridors of the animals are increasingly dissected by road traffic and road works. If the habitat of the grey wolf is further fragmented in Poland, this will also affect the German wolf population, which depends on the immigration of animals from eastern Poland. "We must definitely protect the existing and create new ecological corridors for the wolves, in order to enable them to migrate from their habitat in eastern Poland to the west", says EuroNatur project leader Annette Spangenberg.

Background information:

• Read more about EuroNatur's activities to protect the wolves in Europe

• Read more about the activities of the IFAW 
  

• Map showing the results of the wolf monitoring in West Poland (PDF, 2 Mb)
  

For further questions please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Phone: 07732 - 92 72 10
Fax: 07732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Press contact: Katharina Grund
Contact: Annette Spangenberg


IFAW
Phone: 040-866 500 15
mobile: 0173 – 622 75 39
Email: adinkelmeyer@ifaw.org
Press contact: Andreas Dinkelmeyer

Croatian conservationist receives EuroNatur Award 2011 

Press report June 27, 2011


Radolfzell. Last Friday, Croatia was cleared to become the newest member state of the European Union, according to plan in July 2013. " For the European Union, the accession of Croatia implies a valuable gain in unique natural and cultural landscapes that are hard to find anywhere else in Central Europe", says Gabriel Schwaderer, director of the European Nature Heritage Fund EuroNatur. The wetlands of the river Sava, the largest feeder river of the Danube, is the only region left where traditional farming is still practised the way it was done in many central European regions until the 2nd half of the 19th century.

In accordance with the current political progress, EuroNatur will award the EuroNatur prize 2011 to the Croatian conservationist Goran Gugic in October of this year. Goran Gugic grew up in Germany, but he has been a role model for Croatia as a part of the EU long before its accession was officially decided. "By designating Lonjsko Polje in the Sava wetlands a nature park, Gugic has created a model of how cultural landscapes in Europe can be efficiently protected, thus making a valuable contribution to nature conservation in Europe." This is how Gabriel Schwaderer explains this year's choice of the prize winner. In Lonjsko Polje, an unbroken tradition of pasturing has been preserved since medieval times. Livestock husbandry of the regularly flooded pasture land is unique in Europe and the basis for an exceptional richness in species. Lesser spotted eagles, sea-eagles, spoonbills, black storks and endangered farm animals such as the Posavina horse and the Turopolje pig can still be found here.

According to Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby, EuroNatur project leader, the nature park Lonjsko Polje is exemplary for the consistent implementation of important EU-policies and conventions - among others the European Water Framework Directive and the Ramsar Convention for the protection of waterfowl habitat.
Goran Gugic, manager of the nature park Lonjsko Polje, calls his motto "living with water", showing people how to cooperate with nature instead of working against it, but without losing sight of their needs. With the increasing offers of nature tourism in the park that attract more and more guests, also the number of people returning to their villages along the Sava is continuously rising, as nature tourism provides new income sources.

Beyond his commitment to preserve the cultural landscape along the Sava, the EuroNatur prize winner to-be also keeps an eye on both nature conservation in the rest of Croatia and abroad. As early as 1993, he gave the crucial impetus to take up the idea of a trans-border biosphere reserve along the rivers Mur-Drava-Danube in the border areas of Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary and Serbia.  

Background information:

• EuroNatur Award: former prize winners were among others Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Karl Ludwig Schweisfurth, Prince Charles, Mikhail Gorbachev, Luc Hoffmann and Dr. Hans Bibelriether. The EuroNatur Award is not endowed; it honours outstanding achievements in nature conservation. Goran Gugic will be given the EuroNatur 2011 Award on October 12, 2011 on the island of Mainau, Lake Constance. 
  

• Goran Gugic grew up in Germany, studied forestry in Munich and moved to Lonjsko Polje in 1992 despite of the war in former Yugoslavia to work for a EuroNatur project. Since 1998 he manages the nature park. Besides, he is member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, chairman of the Croatian UNESCO-Committee „Man and Biosphere“ and member of the standing committee of the Ramsar Convention.
  

• Read more about EuroNatur projects for the protection of the Sava wetlands.

Goran Gugic speaks fluently German and is gladly available for interviews. We will be pleased to put you into contact.

Please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Phone.: 07732 - 92 72 10
Fax: 07732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
www.euronatur.org
Press contact: Katharina Grund

Ecological restructuring of EU-agriculture in danger

Heavy blow for nature conservation and small-scale farmers

Press Release of June 22nd, 2011

Raldolfzell. Trusted sources report that Barroso, EU-commission president, intends to reduce drastically the funds of the so-called second pillar of the EU agricultural policy, thereby affecting the resources for agricultural environmental programmes. Conservationists and farmers are equally shocked by these plans. Lutz Ribbe, political Nature Conversation Director of EuroNatur warns that Barroso’s plans will have fatal consequences. “The reductions will not only entail severe cuttings for small-scale farming but the implementation of the Natura 2000-network and the whole biodiversity policy of the EU will be severely upset.” EuroNatur urges Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner to acknowledge the significance of the second pillar and to provide their strong support to maintain it.

Up until a few days ago, all lights showed green for Europe’s future agricultural policy. EU agricultural commissioner Dacian Ciolos planned to achieve a fundamental reform for the coming fiscal period 2013 to 2020. The first proposals of the EU-commission were promising: in the future, direct payments were to be aligned more closely to ecological criteria. Right from the beginning, this “green” aspect of the first pillar has been a major nuisance for Europe’s large farmers and the agricultural industry. They gain most benefits by the current system and they have opposed the reform plans from the start. Successfully - as Barroso’s initiative now shows.

According to internal information from Brussels, Germany and France will no longer subsidize the agricultural household to the extent they have done in the past. Supported by the German Federal Chancellor, French President Nicolas Sarkozy emphasised to commission president Barroso that cuttings will be inevitable but the powerful agricultural lobby must not be upset either. Barroso was in that way convinced by Sarkozy and Merkel not to touch the direct payments.

Instead, the second pillar budget shall be reduced. “It would be a disaster for nature conservation and small-scale farming if these funds disappeared”, Lutz Ribbe says. “Organic farming, contractual nature conservation and the regional organic progress would have to accept severe losses. In some regions of Germany, the financial subsidies from the second pillar are even higher than the direct payments from the first pillar of the agricultural budget. For example, in 2010 the Garmisch-Partenkirchen county received more than 7.4 million Euros for various measures from the second pillar, but only 3.1 million Euros as direct payments. Most farmers there would have to give up.”

Barroso’s plans are also a heavy blow for the maintenance of Europe’s biodiversity. The second pillar provides, amongst others, money for the implementation of the Natura 2000-network and subsidises extensive land use. The EU heads of the government already decided ten years ago to stop the loss of biodiversity by 2010. This project has failed miserably. Ribbe demands, “that it is now even more important to expand the organic development in the agricultural policy for the sake of a diverse and vital agriculture instead of further weakening it.”

Background information:
www.die-bessere-agrarpolitik.de

For questions please contact:
EuroNatur
Lutz Ribbe
Tel.: 02226-2045
mobile: 0170-4125767
Email: lutz.ribbe@euronatur.org

EuroNatur: "European Stork Village 2011" located in Turkey

Press Release from 23. May 2011

Radolfzell.  On May 29 2011, EuroNatur awarded the title of 11th European stork village to the scenic Turkish village of Eskikaraagac, honouring the villagers' outstanding efforts to protect the white stork and the cultural landscape at Lake Uluabat, well known for its rich biodiversity. "The villagers' actions do not only help local nesting pairs, but also storks breeding in Germany", says Gabriel Schwaderer, director of EuroNatur, "which like most European storks, migrate eastwards over the Balkans and the Bosporus to spend winter in Africa." The wetlands at Lake Uluabat offer these elegant birds a safe resting place and sufficient food to gain new energy for the strenuous flight.

The wetlands at Lake Uluabat are internationally recognized and protected by the Ramsar Convention. As a member of the local commission for the Ramsar area, Eskikaraagac has been active in the protection of the white stork since many years, for example by encouraging an extensive pasturing of the speciose meadows and grazing land around Lake Uluabat, in order to conserve and to improve these valuable feeding grounds of the storks. But also their precautions to prevent the large birds from being electrocuted are exemplary. The power authorities finally gave in to the villagers' pressing demand and exchanged the dangerous part of an overhead line by earth cable, covered dangerous power pole tops with hoods and mounted flags on overhead lines located in the birds' flight corridors. Furthermore, artificial aeries were set up, in order to make nest building easier. These protection measures have successfully contributed to keeping the stork population stable. 

The certification will be awarded on occasion of the 8th Annual Convention of the European Stork Villages being held in Eskikaraagac on May 28 and 29; 40 members from eight countries have agreed to participate. Along with the conference, Eskikaraagac has organized a big festival with a varied cultural program and many activities, where villagers and visitors can celebrate "their" storks.

"Because of its variety of landscapes and the large number of bird species, the area around Lake Uluabat is a real insider tip for both nature and bird lovers. Especially nature tourism would offer great opportunities to such an area", states EuroNatur project leader Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby. "That's why Eskikaraagac does not only promote wildlife conservation by protecting this unique natural and cultural landscape, but at the same time provides the local people with new economic perspectives." 


Background Information:

• about the European Stork Villages

• program of the 8th European stork villages network meeting (pdf file, 43 Kb)

• link to the official website of the Ramsar-Convention 
  
  

For further information, photos and interviews please contact:

EuroNatur
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Phone: 07732 - 92 72 10 
Fax: 07732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info@euronatur.org
Internet: www.euronatur.org
Contact: Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby
Press contact: Katharina Grund