Have you noticed that the dawn chorus sounds different in the city than in the forest or at the lake side? Now it is time to look at landscapes through the needs of other species. If you know about the needs of the different bird species you are able to explore landscapes with your ears.
Turn on sound
Important for:
A village is a small, rural settlement with a limited number of inhabitants and buildings. Villages can be surrounded by gardens, meadows, farmland and small woodlands, and can provide important habitats for a variety of plant and animal species. Traditional farming practices, such as extensive farming and the preservation of hedgerows and small woodlands, can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Villages also provide refuges for wildlife and can contribute to the conservation of biotopes that have become rare in landscapes shaped by intensive farming.
Turn on sound
Important for:
Wetlands include various habitats such as swamps, bogs, lakes, ponds or riverbanks. They are characterised by high humidity and can be seasonal or permanent. Wetlands are real hotspots of insect biodiversity. They also contain some of the most species-rich habitats in the world, and provide a habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, including rare and endangered species such as water birds, amphibians, fish and marsh plants. Wetlands also play an important role in water storage, flood protection and the filtering of pollutants. Rewetting moors and re-naturalising streams are therefore important measures for supporting and re-establishing biodiversity.
Turn on sound
Important for:
The open land habitat includes a variety of habitats such as meadows, pastures or steppes. Only a few trees or shrubs can be found here. There is a large number of species that have adapted to these specific habitats, such as meadow-breeding birds like skylarks, lapwings, curlews and harriers. Open land habitats are also important for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Monocultures and intensive agriculture with frequent mowing cycles and the use of fertilisers and pesticides pose an increasing threat to biodiversity.
Turn on sound
Important for:
A city is a densely populated settlement with a multitude of buildings, streets and human activities. However, cities can also offer surprisingly diverse and valuable habitats. Various animal and plant species feel at home in parks or gardens, but also in or on buildings. Some bird species, such as swifts or jackdaws, return to the same buildings to breed, year after year, for decades. During renovation or remodelling measures, nest boxes can help replacing these important breeding sites. Through sustainable urban planning and the help of their citizens, cities can create habitats for a variety of species and actively support biodiversity.
Turn on sound
Important for:
A forest is an area with many trees, shrubs, ferns and other plants. Forests are extremely important for biodiversity as they provide habitat, food and shelter for animals, plants and fungi. Forests play an important role in the carbon cycle and in maintaining soil quality. In species-rich and natural forests, many different sub-habitats can develop, which in turn enable a variety of species to thrive.