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#13 Climate Action – The Forest Fairy – Die Waldfee

Saxony-Anhalt has around 532,000 hectares Forest, which accounts for  about a quarter of the total land area (Quote: Ministry of the Environment,
Agriculture and Energy Saxony-Anhalt). The forest in all its facets is an important Ecosystem for our environment, animals, insects and of course for us humans too.

Trees, shrubs, Mushrooms and forest soils together make a living Shelter for animals and insects of all kinds. Trees store CO2 and win from the Carbon sugar. This releases oxygen. With the cleaning of the atmosphere and the Production of oxygen takes over the tree thus an important survival for humans Function. Trees are also important in the fight against the so-called greenhouse effect. By carbon dioxide, Ozone, methane and other gases, their proportion due to growing industrialization and decline from forests, there is a warming of the Earth.

As a result, not only poles and polar bears melt lose their living space. By the rising Sea levels disappear whole islands of the map. Trees are the only ones that have something against the greenhouse gases can do. It must therefore on the one hand the amount of greenhouse gases on the other hand forests too protect. To reduce climate change, we have to save energy (eg heating, electricity) and should not use fossil fuels for heating like using more coal or oil, there’s more Carbon dioxide is produced. And then the forest is also an important retreat and resort for us humans.

A Visit is worthwhile, maybe you will find a Forest fairy like us in our fairytale too!

We wish that forests are spared and be managed sustainably and in our Environment, especially in the city, many Trees will be planted and maintained. Our contribution? We do not throw garbage in the forest, avoid, where possible, paper and cardboard consumption, and consumer goods containing palm oil!

With the nature fairy tale Die Waldfee the children of the fourth grade of the St. Hildegard primary school in Haldensleben, the YOUNG VOICES for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, campaign for more environmental awareness and especially for the protection of the forest ecosystem in Mittelelbien and around the world.

Die Waldfee is part of the environmental fairytale campaign Nawa & Bubo powered by Explority. To learn more about this program click here

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#14 Life under Water – The Queen of the Elbe River and The Meadowy Countrysides

The biosphere reserve Middle Elbe is home to the Elbe people and namesake of our project Nawa & Bubo in Mittelelbien. The important floodplain areas along the river Elbe form a unique eco-system and at the same time, as natural abundance areas, they also ensure the safety of the people living along the Elbe. This ecological flood protection is also an acknowledgment of the need to grant the Elbe its natural, expanded habitat that rivers should enjoy due to their meandering activity.

Alluvial forests are therefore characterized by the flow characteristics of the rivers. Tree species such as the ash, black elm, black and silver stalk poplar or the pedunculate oak map the floodplain forests on domestic rivers such as the Elbe.

But the wetlands along with the floodplains also create habitats for rare, endangered species such as the beaver or the otter. The abundant areas make up the nutrient-rich floodplain soils. The growing meadow vegetation forms the basis for many animal species and ensures biodiversity along the rivers. Brood-birds such as the nightingale find suitable nesting sites and sufficient food, species-rich insects such as butterflies and wild bees find their nectar in blooming wild plants.

Many frogs also find ideal living conditions and with them also the storks and sea eagles. The natural appearance of alluvial forests is also the inspiration for many stories, legends and fairy tales. The water mermaids of the Elbe queen can freely unfold in this human-untouched habitat. But when man discovers and sells them, the floodplains are threatened in their existence.

With the natural fairy tale Die Elbekönigin, the children of the 6th grade from the Hegel Gymnasium Magdeburg, the YOUNG VOICES for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, are campaigning for more environmental awareness and, in particular, to the protection of the Elbe ecosystem and the endangered species such as the beaver or the Otter. For more information on the environmental program Nawa & Bubo powered by Explority click here.

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#15 Life on Land – The Three Butterflies

The butterfly forms the species-rich insect with more than 160,000 different specimens. More than 700 different butterfly species live alone in the Elbe-Saxony region in the meadowland countryside. Only since the mid-18th century  this insect carries the name Schmetterling  in Germany (from Schmetten, Schmand, which some species eat). They are also known as moth. The butterflies are the colorful butterflies we know with large wings compared to their rather thin physique. Just like the bees, the butterflies have compound eyes. Concise are the long feelers. Not only bees but also butterflies pollinate the flowers of wild and cultivated plants and thus secure whole ecosystems.

Especially for agriculture they have an important role to play. Butterflies and insects are at particular risk from pesticides used in agriculture and forestry. Unfortunately, the poison kills the beneficial insects in addition to the pest.

Even the smaller habitats for wild plants pose a threat to many species of butterflies. Butterflies have a different life expectancy. While in some species the caterpillar stage can last for several years, others live only a few weeks. Some species, such as the peacock’s eye, can hibernate in sheltered places while, for example, the admiral flies over the winter even to southern Europe. The metamorphosis, the transformation from an egg to a caterpillar and finally into a colorful butterfly was already in ancient times a symbol of resurrection and rebirth. For us, this process is always a fascinating example of life. Who would not like to have a butterfly as a friend?

Help secure important diverse habitats for butterflies for biodiversity

With the natural fairy tale The Three Butterflies, the children of the 4th grade of the elementary school Comenius from Tangermünde, the YOUNG VOICES for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, campaign for more environmental awareness and especially for the protection of insects and butterflies.

The Three Butterflies is part of the environmental fairytale campaign Nawa & Bubo powered by Explority. To learn more about this program click here

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#15 Life on Land – Holy Horses – Das Heilige Pferd und das Mädchen

 

Mittelelbien is inhabited by many horses. The school kids from “Grundschule Gebrüder Alstein” in Haldensleben even discovered a holy horse in Altenhausen, a neighbouring village…

This horse could speak and tell the children about being lonely because it was kept as a holy horse in a golden temple without her friends. When the girl realised the horse had feelings too, just like her, she eventually opened the gate so the horse could be free again after many years.

While the girl took the animals place to become “the holy girl”, the horse could finally enjoy freedom again.

Sustainable Development on our planet includes the protection of endangered species at land and below water.

But does it also care about all the other animals?

To raise awareness for the importance of animal rights and well being, the kids from the Grundschule Gebrüder Alstein produced a new version of the Chinese fairytale “Das Heilige Pferd” as a photo story and as an audioplay to underscore the mindfulness needed for other species like horses and their well being. Let us share the wisdom of the “holy girl” for our Planet and for ourselves.

“Animal rights should have more weight within the discussion of sustainable development!”

Das Heilige Pferd und das Mädchen is part of the environmental fairytale campaign Nawa & Bubo powered by Explority. To learn more about this program click here

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#6 Clean water – Wasser wertvoller als Gold

At the Natura2000 location “Haus der Flüsse” (House of rivers) in Havelberg (Sachsen-Anhalt / Germany) schoolkids of the “Brüder Grimm” school in Calvörde participated in Explority’s SDG and environmental project Nawa & Bubo in Mittelelbien and learned about the importance of clean water both as  eco system and living environment as well as elixir of life on planet Earth.

Especially  the meadowy countrysides display a beautiful eco system for rare and endangered species like Otter ad the Beaver.  With the return of the salmon to the Elbe river, new positive results of a better water quality are shown.

Clean water is important for the health of humans, animals and plants

Clean Water is important for biodiversity and life below water

 

“Clean Water is a human right, it is a children right!”

To raise awareness for the importance of clean water, the kids from the Brother Grimm school produced a new version of the Bohemian fairytale “Salz, wertvoller als Gold”  as a photo story and audioplay to underscore the meaning of clean water for our Planet and for ourselves.  Let us stop producing waste which contaminates rivers and oceans and stop using dangerous pesticides, which pollute our ground water.

If you would like to get to know more about our environmental project Nawa & Bubo please follow the link here