Dive into Octobers top environmental stories: citizen scientists help to find out about the health of German rivers, sea turtles and Ganges river dolphins make a strong comeback and an Austrian river back in its original shape is the perfect home for both flora and fauna!
A RESTORED RIVER IN AUSTRIA
The Klausbach River in Austria was restored to its original form over 20 years ago. Previously channeled, the river now has more space to shape its riverbed naturally — bringing many benefits for flora and fauna, as scientists have found. With a slower current, many insects, such as dragonflies, have returned to the Klausbach, also attracting birds to the river. On hot days, temperatures have been significantly lower (more than 7 degrees Celsius) compared to its still-channeled sections.
award-winning citizen science
Meanwhile, in Germany, biologist Julia von Gönner has been awarded the Citizen Science Award. By engaging over 900 citizens to monitor river quality, she has amassed an enormous amount of data through the efforts of non-biologists. Her analysis revealed that German rivers are in worse condition than expected. The project has received considerable attention from German media, including ARD, which launched the #unsereflüsse campaign to involve even more participants.
a record of nesting sea turtles in greece
The Greek island of Zakynthos is a key breeding ground for the loggerhead sea turtle—a species believed to have existed for over 100 million years. Thanks to the efforts of various NGOs over the past 30 years and the establishment of a marine national park, conservationists are encouraged by the recent rise in turtle numbers. This is also beneficial for marine ecosystems, as the loggerhead turtle is considered vital for maintaining the Mediterranean’s marine biodiversity.
